Babcock Ranch ‘Mask Squad’ unites to help their hometown’s health care workers

BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (April 17, 2020) – At Babcock Ranch, residents joined forces three weeks ago with a singular mission: to supply their hometown’s health care workers with protective cloth masks to wear while treating patients during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the Babcock Ranch “Mask Squad” is on track to surpass the 3,000-mask milestone.

Wanting to do her part, resident Jacqueline Fischer first started sewing masks on her own when she heard about the need. But demand quickly outpaced her production.

“I didn’t realize how many nurses live here at Babcock Ranch,” said Fischer. “Within a day, I had so many requests. I thought, ‘I’m a fast sewer, but I can’t do this by myself,’” she said.

Fischer reached out to her Babcock Ranch neighbors on Facebook to ask for help, and they immediately rose to the challenge. She organized the volunteers and the “Mask Squad” took action.

Cyndi Pride was among the first Babcock Ranch residents who answered the call. A quilter and a self-admitted “fabric hoarder,” Pride has been using her stash of fabric to fashion mask straps. Even residents who can’t sew have been helping by cutting out fabric or donating supplies.

“The response has been phenomenal. We have a small army working on this – every little bit we do helps, and it’s going right to the front lines,” said Fischer. To date, the “Babcock Ranch Mask Squad” has produced 2,855 masks.

Babcock Ranch resident and health care worker Reva Franks Walters expressed her gratitude on the Babcock Ranch Residential Association’s Facebook page, where she shared “We can’t thank you sewers enough for the masks! We work at a catheterization lab and have to wear masks around all patients. These are life savers …”

“I am beyond proud of our community for the way they’ve come together and offered to help,” said Fischer. “We are so lucky to live in a community where we’re taking care of our own.”

“If you’ve ever visited Babcock Ranch, you’ve undoubtedly experienced our unique and welcoming sense of community,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, developer of Babcock Ranch. “Neighbors are like family here. I’m proud of our mask makers, who exemplify the true spirit of Babcock Ranch.”

To watch the Babcock Ranch Mask Squad in action, visit https://bit.ly/BRMaskSquad.

Babcock Ranch was created by Kitson & Partners with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand. Half of the town’s 18,000-acre footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and expansive lakes, providing recreation and scenic backdrops for Babcock Ranch’s homes and the Founder’s Square downtown district.

Recently surpassing its 600 homes sold milestone, Babcock Ranch has nine homebuilders offering more than 50 home designs for nearly every lifestyle, from condominiums to villas to single-family estates ranging from 1,107 to more than 4,000 square feet. Homes appeal to young millennials, families, empty nesters and retirees alike, with prices ranging from the low $200s to over $1.5 million. Built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards, homes emphasize energy and water conservation and offer a full gigabyte of fiber-optic connectivity.

Babcock National brings golf to Babcock Ranch with a newly opened 18-hole Gordon Lewis-designed course as the centerpiece of Lennar’s new lifestyle community. In 2021, Publix will anchor the Crescent B Commons shopping center underway at a new entrance to Babcock Ranch.

Within Babcock Ranch’s welcoming neighborhoods, more than two dozen model and quick-delivery homes are now open or under construction by Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Divco Custom Homes, Florida Lifestyle Homes, Fox Premier Builders, Lennar, Meritage Homes, Pulte Homes, Stock Classic Homes and WCI. Many models are open for viewing daily.

For more information about Southwest Florida’s new hometown, located just northeast of Fort Myers off Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31, contact a Babcock Ranch Town Ambassador at 941-235-6901 Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.BabcockRanch.com.