A couple of the face masks sewn by Jason Pham's mother (Photo courtesy Jason Pham)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge family making face masks for members of the community

Apr 10, 2020 | 9:10 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Lethbridge family is lending a helping hand.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, Jason Pham says his mother is sewing masks for residents and she’s giving them away for free.

“My mom is a seamstress and she’s been making these cotton masks,” Pham told Lethbridge News Now.

“They’re not medical masks at all, but they are something for people to cover their faces with.”

Pham’s family owns and operates Northside Alterations, a tailoring shop in north Lethbridge. They also run two dry cleaners in the city – the Fabric Care Dry Cleaning on the north side and on the west side.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

He said his mother was inspired by the struggles of some of her friends in the United States and other parts of the world during the global pandemic.

In some instances, safety equipment and items like disinfectant wipes have seen their prices rise due to high demand.

“My mom just feels for people like that and she wanted to help out people who can’t get into contact with such things like that, because a lot of people are selling these masks for almost like 30 dollars and she can provide that for free…she just wants to help out the community,” he said.

Pham noted that the mask giveaway is going well so far, however, they are running out of supplies to make the face coverings.

“All the hardware stores are sold out of cloth and the material to make [the masks],” he told LNN.

“She [his mother] made 400 and we’re at about 100 masks [left] at this point. We’re just trying to help out here and it seems like everyone is super grateful and we’re just trying to help as much as we can.”

Pham said the family is inviting anyone who wants a mask to bring in materials they may have in their own homes to help in the lack of available supplies. He said people can drop off necessary fabrics to Northside Alterations (237 13 Street N.).

For those picking up masks, they can be found at the three family-owned shops in a plastic box at the front of each business.

“They’re individually wrapped in Ziploc [bags],” Pham said.

Masks can be picked up at the three locations Mondays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.