Alana Ufberg, a Wynnewood native and sixth-grader at Barrack Hebrew Academy is making “superhero” masks for local healthcare workers and other members of the community, writes Matt Silver for the Jewish Exponent.

Alana, who noticed that many real-life superheroes wear masks, started sewing and distributing cloth masks even before Gov. Tom Wolf asked Pennsylvanians to wear them when leaving their homes. The 11-year-old made it a part of her bar mitzvah project she named Masks for Manna.

“About two or three weeks before the governor’s announcement, there had been a lot in the news about mask shortages and doctors and nurses needing medical supplies,” said Janie Ufberg, Alana’s mother. “That’s when Alana decided that maybe we could learn how to make masks.”

Soon, the student and her mother turned their sewing area into an assembly line where they cut the fabric, iron it, then sew. Dad Aaron then wraps and bags the masks.

The family has so far distributed more than 300 masks not just to healthcare workers, but also to patients, friends, and neighbors.

Alana also organized a curbside mask exchange/food drive that benefited the Narberth Community Food Bank.

Read more about Alana Ufberg and the Barrack Hebrew Academy at the Jewish Exponent by clicking here.