Cape Coral family business flips from custom upholstery to making masks

Right now, medical masks are critical in the fight against the coronavirus, but they are also hard to find.

One Cape Coral family business is working to make sure there are enough to go around.

From custom upholstery and drapery to making masks.

“I mean everybody is scared and so if we can just do something for the community and try to help, whatever we can do,” said Leslie Tarasyuk, the owner of Cape Coral Custom Upholstery and Drapery.

COVID-19 closed her business until further notice, but she still goes in every day to make as many washable masks as possible with the help of family and one employee donating his time.

“If we have the means to have the material our machines, then we’re going to do whatever we can do,” said Tarasyuk.

They started out just making a few masks for themselves and family members. Now, she says they have multiple orders waiting for them.

“We’re trying to make them a little bit more, if you’re wearing a mask maybe you can have something happy or colorful,” she said.

It’s not easy—it takes about 20 minutes to get one mask completed. So far, they’ve made about 100 in just four days.

“We didn’t anticipate as many people needing them as we have so I’ve had to kind of think ‘okay, how can I do this faster,'” said Krista Tarasyuk Watkins who is helping make the masks.

But the time it takes to make one is worth it.

Tarasyuk says it’s the least her business can do during this crisis.

She says the masks will go to anyone who asks for them. They’re asking for donations of however much people can give.