VERSAILLES, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Woodford County Detention Center has been on lockdown since March 10, but some inmates are keeping busy.
The building's lobby is now a sewing center. A group of nine inmates, regularly on work release, are busy making masks during the COVID 19 shutdown.
Jailer Michele Rankin says they've made around 300 since last Thursday.
"Luckily, my kitchen manager, she used to have a sewing shop so she had tons of material: sewing machines, embroidery machines so it just grew from that little idea," Rankin said.
She says most of the fabric came from donated clothing that wasn't used. Inmates cut the material, iron it and then draw patterns on it before sewing the masks.
Rankin brags about the creativity of her inmates.
"One of my sergeants asked if they could come up with an n-95 filter.S o what they've done, they put her name on it, but on the inside it's an n-95 filter. They've velcroid that in so she'll be able to wash it," Rankin said.
The jail is giving the masks to nurses and anybody who needs one.
Go to the Woodford County Detention Center's Facebook page to learn more or to inquire about getting a mask.
