Veteran & RN makes masks to protect town’s essential workers

Community By Megan Jacobo, Reporter Wednesday, August 5, 2020

      If you’ve seen town officials wearing masks to prevent transmission of the coronavirus, chances are Veronica Sepulveda made them.

     Sepulveda has donated 130 of her handmade masks to the Town of Miami Lakes’ essential workers, including police officers, firefighters, town staff and Mayor Manny Cid.

     “Miami Lakers always take care of each other and Veronica is a great example to all of our residents,” said Cid.

      His mask, shown in the photo above, also has the town seal.

       Sepulveda, 38, a retired sergeant in the U.S. Army, is also an RN. She is currently a homemaker.

     “I felt the need to help in other ways, by making face masks and donating them to healthcare providers and other essential workers to help keep them safe so they can continue to deliver care to the community,” Sepulveda said.

She is shown in the photo above wearing one of her creations.

     Sepulveda dedicated more than a decade to nursing patients in New York and South Florida and said she most recently worked at Palmetto General Hospital.

     Her masks are made of cotton and cotton blend fabrics and are double-sided and reversible.

     They contain a non-woven, fusible interface filter and are washable.

     Sepulveda has lived in Miami Lakes for the past 10 years with her husband, Omar Sepulveda, 44, who is an enlisted Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force, and their son, 15, and daughter, 15 months.

     The couple is expecting another baby in December.

     Sepulveda hopes to return to nursing next year.

     Meanwhile, she is sewing more masks for the town employees, and accepts donated fabric and other supplies for the masks.

     Sepulveda can be reached at v.sepulveda0325@gmail.com.

Mayor Manny Cid and Veronica Sepulveda shared their photos.