As hospitals, doctors, nurses and first responders face a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment, the owners of Tom and Luigi's Tailor Shop in West Seneca have altered their plans, now helping health care workers deal by making protective facemasks.

Luigi Collana followed his father into the family craft -- one that has its roots in Tom Collana's native Italy.

But like many small business owners, their trade is being tested in a new way because of the coronavirus.

"This was one of our busiest times of year with prom season coming up  and wedding season coming up," Luigi said. "But now that everything's been closed or canceled, it's taken a big effect on our business."

Rather than completely close up shop, however, Tom and Luigi turned their attention to helping others through the crisis.

Amid the crisis, family back in Italy encouraged them to start making face masks. 

"At this point, anything could help protect them and their patients and clients as well," Luigi said.

Over the weekend, they made about 800 masks -- some from washable cotton -- some from a material similar to disposable surgical masks. They sell for $3 or $4 apiece. 

After putting a message out on social media, health care workers have rushed to call on Tom and Luigi for help.

"Right now, we have nothing. We don't have masks. We're limited on our gloves. We're told to wash our hands, do the best we can," said Mary Kulinski, a registered nurse on the infusion team with the Visiting Nurses Association of Western New York.

As they travel to people's homes, they're often in close proximity to patients who already have compromised immune systems.

She stopped by the tailor shop Monday to buy about 15 masks.

"We're looking for any way that we can protect our patients better than just walking in with nothing. We know that there's a shortage," Kulinski said.

These masks don't block out the germs as well as the N95 masks that medical professionals commonly use, but Mary suggested Luigi make a pocket so she can put her own high-grade filter inside the masks.

"We know that we're going to go through thousands and thousands and thousands of masks over the next couple of months," she said. "We need to find an alternative way."

Making alterations -- just another day on the job for Tom and Luigi. 

"I've been working 15 hours a day. Now my son's got me working 22 hours a day," Tom Collana said. "I'm glad to help, whatever we could do."