THUNDER BAY — Vulnerable residents of the community will receive cloth face masks thanks to a new United Way of Thunder Bay initiative called Facing Forward.
The project is a partnership with the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and the City of Thunder Bay.
It provides workplaces, families and organizations with a way to purchase cloth masks for themselves, while at the same time helping to provide masks for people most in need.
In an announcement Tuesday, United Way CEO Albert Brule said the organization believes everyone deserves fair access to masks, but unfortunately many don't have the means to buy cloth masks for themselves of their families.
There are three different ways to participate:
- Retail purchase of individual masks for $14.99 + HST at Ungali Clothing Co. at 16 Cumberland Street South. Curbside pickup is available for masks ordered online from the company. The purchase of each mask supports the provision of a free mask to a vulnerable community member.
- Online purchase of 10 masks or more at www.uwaytbay.ca/facingforward. Masks are available in bulk at a discount.
- Donation. People, businesses and organizations can donate funds to support the purchase of masks to be distributed free to vulnerable community members.
Newmont, Impala Canada and the Port Arthur Rotary Club have already stepped forward to make the first donations to support the project. Their contributions mean that 3,500 masks will be provided to local frontline organizations to distribute to the needy.
"Since the beginning of this health crisis, there has been incredible support to help United Way of Thunder Bay address the needs of vulnerable community members," Brule said.
