The government is distributing 25 million masks to health centers and pantries.
For Immediate Release
Erie, Pa. – August 16, 2021 – Community Health Net (CHN), the leading Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving the Lake Erie region, has announced that it has received a supply of 1000 youth masks under a new White House mask initiative. Through the National Strategy to defeat COVID-19, the Administration is delivering more than 25 million facemasks to over 1,300 Community Health Centers across the country and 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens, reaching some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Led by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD), the purpose of the effort is to ensure that low-income individuals have affordable access to this essential protection.
“The safety and health of individuals and families in the Lake Erie region is top of mind for us, especially those who can be adversely impacted by COVID-19 due to their economic status,” said Craig Ulmer, CEO of Community Health Net. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends mask-wearing as a critical step to slow the spread and protect people from getting COVID-19. However, many low-income Americans still lack access to this protection. Two-thirds of the people served by Community Health Centers nationally live in poverty, 60% are racial and/or ethnic minorities, and nearly 1.4 million are unhoused. “We are excited to be included in this special initiative as it integrates perfectly into our ongoing regional COVID-19 mitigation efforts.”
Residents in the region may pick up an individually wrapped package of two masks for each person in their household at any CHN location. Child sizes are available. The masks are 3-ply, high-quality, washable, and consistent with the mask guidance from the CDC. The distribution will not impact mask availability for health care workers.
About Community Health Net
Community Health Net is the preeminent, community-focused healthcare network that advances the wellness of the region. Our mission is to improve our region’s quality of life by providing professional healthcare services with compassion, respect, and dignity to all. We are a Federally Qualified Health Center with seven locations serving the Lake Erie region for over 35 years.
Acknowledgment
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD). For more information, please visit WhiteHouse.gov.