#NeighborhoodHeroes: Custom apparel business in the Coachella Valley is now making face masks

Elaine Bordessa Newbrough has owned a Reversible Golf and Resortwear apparel company in the Coachella Valley for eleven years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newbrough has started using her facility, along with many volunteers, to distribute masks throughout the Coachella Valley. She is distributing bags of masks to various doctor's offices and hospice centers to protect those working on the front lines.

Newbrough has over 70 volunteers working with her and they have made and distributed over 4,000 masks collectively to the Coachella Valley. She said, "That expression, it takes a village, well, we have a very good village here." She packages the masks into bags and leaves a note in the bag that says everyone who has helped with the masks. The number of masks in the bags vary, all depending on how many each place needs. When she finds the number, the bags go out to doctor's offices, nurses, hospice centers, senior centers, and anyone else who needs them.

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With her donations, many people are sending her thank you letters and pictures of themselves wearing the masks. Newbrough said, "You know the most important thing about this is that they’ve got them and they’re using them."

She is also calling out for more volunteers to help during this time. She urges people to reach out via text or phone call to 760-333-6991. She said, "If there’s anybody out there that can cut, sew, drive, we could use your help." Volunteers are able to work from home. She also said any donation can also help. They could use more elastic and fabric. The volunteers she has working with her now have been sewing every day for three weeks. Newbrough said, "So we could use a little back up to keep this going." Newbrough wants to get as many masks to people as possible. She said, "Police department, fire department… anybody who is out there every day working with the public and putting themselves out, please give us a call." Those who need a mask for themself can also reach out.

Newbrough said, "We’re all in this together, we really are. And a small community like the Coachella Valley, we should, even more, be helping each other."

News Channel 3's Taban Sharifi will have more on this neighborhood hero tonight at 5 p.m.

Celebrating #NeighborhoodHeroes

While the coronavirus crisis is keeping us apart, we know the Coachella Valley community is still coming together to help each other. We are looking for those who are lending a hand during this uncertain time. Do you know of any everyday people who are going out of their way to help others? Have you seen someone find creative solutions to the new challenges we all face?

News Channel 3 wants to celebrate these neighborhood heroes. Tell us about them here. Enter HERE or email SHARE@kesq.com. If you see good happening on social media, share it with us, and tag it #neighborhoodheroes for us to see.

We are all in this together. Help us showcase the good that's happening right here in the Coachella Valley.

Kaiser recommends that those in the Coachella Valley who are elderly and have underlying health conditions, including individuals who are HIV positive, limit non-essential travel and avoid large public gatherings.

Health officials said anyone who thinks they might be experiencing symptoms of the virus and want to be seen at Eisenhower Health should call the hospital hotline first at 760-837-8988. Avoid the spread of this illness.
Residents with further questions can call 2-1-1 and 800–CDC –INFO (800 – 232 – 4636) with any questions.

Public health recommendations for all Riverside County residents during community spread:

Practice social distancing, which is remaining out of places where people meet or gather and avoid using public transportation, if possible.
Do not attend work, school or events when sick. Stay home.
Cough into your elbow or tissue.
Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer often.
Stay away from anyone who is sick.