By 
THE donation of sewing machines and electric cutters has helped speed up production for the Strabane Area Scrubs Group.
Two overlocker machines along with two cutting machines were donated by an anonymous funder and were handed over to the
group recently by independent councillor Raymond Barr.
Accepting the donation Elayne McNicholl, one of two local women who helped set up the Strabane Scrubs Group, explained the machines had really helped them step up a gear in terms of production.
“Before this we were using a mishmash of machines”, Elayne explained. “But now we have these two overlockers it has helped speed everything up. We have two people working on the overlockers in Fountain Street and then the items go out to some of our other volunteers, working from home, to be flatlocked, pressed and finished. We have a really good production line going now.
“The electric cutters have also allowed us to cut patterns in-between those that O’Neill’s are doing for us, and that’s been really useful especially for smaller items like masks etc,” she explained.
Handing over the machines Cllr Raymond Barr thanked the funder for their donation. And he added, “I was delighted to be able to present these machines and cutters to Strabane Area Scrubs. Hopefully these machines will help the group expand on the brilliant work they are already doing in manufacturing masks and scrubs for use by those on the front-line and in the community.
“It’s just another example of how the people of Strabane have stepped-up to help each other in these uncertain times and is really great to see,” Cllr Barr added.
Explaining that demand is still high for their products Elayne said that the easing of lockdown restrictions had actually seen more people getting in contact with the group.
“We have had more enquiries for scrubs – with day centres and family practices etc starting to reopen there is a need there, we are also still supplying many of those working in care homes and in the front-line in a community setting. And there are also still many people requiring face masks,” she explained.
“We are taking it a week at a time, but we are still trying to help anyone who needs any of these items”.
• If you would like to avail of the services of the Strabane Scrubs Group you should contact 07942 615566 and someone will help you make an appointment, or provide you with a sample and order forms. A pick-up and delivery service is then available.