Mask-Wearing for your Community AND Yourself
Earlier this week the CDC published a scientific brief stating that mask-wearing benefits others, as well as the mask-wearer. We at Masks4Missions are thrilled that the CDC has extended their statement to include how wearing masks helps you. By offering both personal protection and reducing community spread of COVID-19, masks are a powerful tool in our collective toolbox. So many of you have been essential in Vermont’s ability to keep spikes in cases at a minimum, and we take our hats off to you (while keeping our masks on)!
Please keep wearing those Masks4Missions masks to keep your community and yourself safe while supporting our hard-working nonprofit partners!
Doing Good in the Neighborhood
One month after the launch of Vermont Mask Day, I had the great opportunity to reflect on the work the team and I have been doing through a conversation with The Peak Radio for their Doing Good in the Neighborhood segment.
It seems like ages ago I was still considering a “lemonade stand” idea for a mask fundraiser, and I’m so grateful for all the support and energy from our nonprofit partners, our student social media ambassadors, and everyone else who saw the far-reaching potential of that idea and expanded it to Masks4Missions. We’ve distributed over 25,000 masks across the state and are producing over 50 custom mask designs that all support our local nonprofits and institutions.
“It takes a village” is a cliché but it’s true. As much as I’ve been delighted to be at the helm of this initiative, this metaphorical plane would’ve never taken off without the dedication and countless hours of all of our committee partners. Doing good in the neighborhood is and continues to be a personal goal of mine. Through Masks4Missions and the past few months, it’s clear that when it expands to a community project, the positive impact is exponential.
COVID Resources
The United States is reeling from a third wave of COVID-19. During this difficult time we want to share and highlight the COVID resources on our website. When you visit our COVID resources webpage, you’ll notice a snapshot of COVID-19 stats in Vermont. This is pulled directly from the VT Department of Health (DOH) website, which offers a real-time glimpse into total cases, deaths, and people who are tested and monitored. We are comforted by the fact that Vermont still has a relatively low number of cases, although we remain vigilant about public safety protocols including mask-wearing.
Our webpage also houses helpful articles from the UVM Health Network/Medical Center, VT DOH, and the CDC. You can browse tips on how to select, wear, and clean your mask and kids’ masks. There’s also curated guidance on COVID-19 for families, teachers, administrators, and nurses.
Please stay safe and keep wearing those masks!
Show us your masks!
Our social media platforms are buzzing with activity from you and Vermonters across the state. Masks4Missions is hosting a social media contest with prizes for the best mask design and for the best post promoting mask use in Vermont. We are impressed by the quality and creativity of the posts and touched by all the masked faces of our community represented in these images! A Gold, Silver, and Bronze winner for each of the two contests will be announced at the pre-show of tomorrow’s Grace Potter concert. Keep showing us your masks and sending us posts on Instagram and Facebook. We love the energy!
Team, Advisory Board… Assemble!
The Masks4Missions family is growing in two dimensions!
First, I’m pleased to welcome Cassandra Ling, Phil Cooke, Trevor Nuckols, and Kelsey Parenteau to the core team of Masks4Missions. You’ll hear more from each of them in future blog posts, so keep an eye out!
At the same time, Masks4Missions has launched an advisory board made up of seasoned leaders from Vermont nonprofits of every stripe.