Masks4Missions has gone national—Notes from 2020-2022
We’ve proved our impact locally. Our work at Masks4Missions has focused on making and distributing masks to save lives and strengthen communities. We are the proud organizers of the inaugural Vermont Mask Day, a one-day, state-wide celebration of Vermonters coming together virtually and in mask-protected socially-distant gatherings to celebrate our shared commitment to healthy communities by wearing COVID-masks branded with custom Vermont Mask Day designs and Vermont Nonprofit images.
But national-level action was needed. On his first day in office, President Biden signed an executive order requiring physical distancing and mask-wearing on all federal property and by all federal employees nationwide. The same executive order ensured the country will remain a member of the World Health Organization and established Jeff Zients as the government's official Covid-19 response coordinator who will report directly to the president. President Biden also started a "100 days masking challenge" to encourage all Americans to wear masks and state & local officials to implement public health measures to mitigate transmission rates.
So our mission expanded! While our initial efforts were centered on providing support to Vermont-based institutions, we took President Biden up on his challenge and increased our outreach nationally! In tandem with President Biden's masking challenge, we launched our own national 100-Day Mask Campaign to promote mask-wearing and to distribute 100,000 masks across the 50 states.
Building on our core mission of creating safer lives and stronger communities, this new initiative:
Joined the White House and countless other organizations in promoting mask wearing and mask pride.
Distributed 100,000+ masks to a wider and more diverse range of underserved populations across all 50 states.
Spotlighted the invaluable work of nonprofits in stewarding our communities across the country.
How you can help
Being the change you want to see. Seeing the change you want there to be.
Even following the rollout of vaccines, masks have remained among the most simple and cost-effective ways to fight the spread of COVID-19. Yet countless Americans have failed to wear masks, whether due to lack of resources, lack of education, or lack of understanding of their importance.
We believe that there’s nothing like public awareness to help turn things around. Our Instagram page is filled with photos of our friends, nonprofit partners, and local government leaders loudly and proudly wearing masks. Follow us to support mask wearing and see the impact you can have on your community by simply wearing a mask. And better yet, post a picture showing your mask and telling us why you wear it by tagging us at @masks4missions!
Partnering with nonprofits through community referrals.
To encourage mask wearing nationwide, Masks4Missions invited the public to nominate an organization in their community/state who could benefit from receiving a donation of masks.
Time and time again, we’ve seen that governmental and nonprofit stakeholders know best what their communities need. The partners we selected helped us make sure that masks got to those who need them the most.
Nominations are currently closed. We thank all who recommended nonprofit partnerships for their support.
Start your own Masks4Missions program by using our resource kit.
From our launch in August, through Vermont Mask Day on October 6, to the national expansion of our nonprofit partnerships in early 2021, we’ve learned a lot about designing and distributing masks. We want to share our knowledge and resources, so that others can start mask programs of their own and join us in the fight against COVID-19, because the more people wear masks, the safer we’ll all be.,
To access our kit, click the link below. There you’ll find all sorts of useful materials, should you wish to start your own mask program: an overview of our work, a list of mask suppliers and sample mask designs, a database of community foundations to contact for funding, ready-for-publication PR materials, and draft forms for using nonprofits’ logos, among other items. If you have any special requests, please feel free to get in touch with us directly at info@masks4missions.org.
Explore our network of partners
We are thrilled to spotlight our extraordinary list of partners in distributing masks across the US. Please check out our blog for posts showcasing our nonprofit partners in their tireless work to provide for under-resourced communities in sectors like hunger relief, housing, and health.
"My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the darkest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation."
PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JANUARY 20, 2021
Help us make a difference.
Masks4Missions
Harbor Road
Shelburne, VT 05482
general information:
info@masks4missions.org
media/press information:
press@masks4missions.org
© Copyright 2021 Masks4Missions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This site is not managed by a medical professional and does not make any claims as to the effectiveness of the resources, suggestions, or other information that is presented herein. No mask is a 100% guarantee against transmission. If you believe that you or someone you know has been infected with the novel COVID-19 virus, take immediate steps to protect yourselves and others, then promptly contact a medical professional.
As of January 14, 2022, the CDC have issued new guidance on mask safety recommending the use of N95 and KN95 masks rather than cloth masks. Masks4Missions encourages all to procure and wear N95 or KN95 masks in light of the CDC's updated guidance. Information and prior activity documented on this site may reflect now outdated guidance on mask compliance.