Today, with the support of Ottawa Public Health and City of Ottawa, and as part of United Way’s Local Love in a Global Crisis work, we’re pleased to announce a new initiative called Facing Forward that aims to provide cloth masks to the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Everyone should be able to help flatten the curve. But for many, getting face masks isn’t as easy as it sounds.
With recent guidance from public health authorities recommending people wear non-medical-grade face masks when in a community setting, we were approached by OPH to support those in our community who will have difficulty purchasing, making, or washing their own masks.
This initiative provides workplaces, families, and other groups with a way to purchase cloth masks for themselves, while, at the same time, helping provide masks for vulnerable people in our communities.
At the beginning of this crisis—thanks to many incredible supporters—we provided thousands of items of medical-grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to vulnerable residents and front-line service providers. We need your help to do more.
Now, more than ever, we need to increase this work to ensure those most vulnerable have the protection they need.
We encourage you to take part by participating in the following ways:
1. You can buy cloth masks for your workplace, your family, or other groups. Proceeds from your purchase will provide masks to those most in need.
2. You can ensure masks will go to those most in need in our communities by donating to our COVID-19 response: Local Love in a Global Crisis.
3. You can also make fabric masks that will be distributed to the most vulnerable through the City of Ottawa. Visit our website for more details, or to find out how to provide cloth masks to other areas of our region like Lanark County, Prescott-Russell, and Renfrew County.
