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11-year-old Ruskin sewing star helps keep doctors, nurses and neighbors safe with stylish face masks

GG Graham sews all day to meet demand
Posted at 5:35 AM, Apr 07, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-07 07:46:05-04

RUSKIN, Fla. -- Sewing star GG Graham helps keep doctors and nurses at Tampa General Hospital, and her Ruskin neighbors safe with stylish homemade face masks.

GG Graham just turned 11 years old.

The Ruskin girl knew exactly what she wanted to buy with her birthday money.

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“I knew that hospitals were out of masks,” says GG. “And I wanted to help.”

So she bought a sewing machine and made 50 protective face masks for the pediatrics staff at Tampa General Hospital, where her mother used to work.

GG’s legend grew fast. Her face masks are well-crafted with an inside pocket for a filter. They’re also stylish, featuring cartoon characters and local sports teams.

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Neighbors and a prison reached out when pictures of her masks showed up on Facebook. She now has 300 orders and counting.

“We’ve started making more and more,” says GG smiling and shaking her head. “It got out of hand. But we continue and continue.”

GG plans on donating more masks to medical people on the front lines, but to pay for her mounting supply costs, she’s now asking $5 for individual mask sales.

“It’s a scary thing going on, not just here but all over the world,” she says. “So it feels good to help and be a part of things.”

For more information on GG Custom Masks click here.