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Denver woman makes, sells enough masks to pay rent and donate to people who can't pay for them

When Robin Mills lost one of her part-time jobs and most of her work as a Tarot card reader and jewelry artist, mask making took its place.

DENVER — A career switch during a pandemic wasn't something Robin Mills had in mind, but life can make that decision for you when work stops, and something else pops up.

“Yeah I don’t know," said Mills about what she would have done without her new job. "So it was kind of a scrambling and then it was like, 'oh, well this will work.'" 

Mask making has turned into her temporary profession. 

She said it started as a way to help out health care workers, and when more people asked to buy her masks on the online community, NextDoor, Mills began charging $8 for each mask. 

Credit: Robin Mills

“There’s so much change now, and there’s often ways you can find to make a living and to help other people that are out of the box," said Mills. 

The 20-year Capitol Hill resident has two part-time jobs, does Tarot card readings and makes jewelry. 

Most of that work went away, and she said she couldn't get unemployment benefits because of a complication in the automated system and overwhelmed phone lines. 

"And then when I found out unemployment wasn’t gonna work out for me, I had some fabric and I went 'hmm, let’s just see,' and it took off," she said. 

Mills has sewn more than 200 masks and was able to pay rent and her car payment with the money. Without the masks, she said she wouldn't have had enough. 

"You do what you have to do," she said. 

RELATED: Starting May 6, you'll be required to wear a face mask in Denver

As more stores begin to require masks in Colorado and Denver begins a mandate in certain places, Mills expects the demand to grow. 

She said if people can't afford to pay, she'll make one for free. To buy one of her handmade masks, email ra.wells@hotmail.com

RELATED: Here are the Colorado cities where face masks are required in essential businesses

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