Masks for America Crowdfunds Masks for Frontline Workers
Pediatrician, Teacher, NY Manufacturing Expert, and Graphic Novelist Launch Crowdfunding Effort to Source Masks for Hospitals
New York, NY — Nurses, doctors and other frontline medical workers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico are being forced to ration N95 masks or turn to inadequate bandanas, paper, and cloth masks — leaving them vulnerable to infection as they interact with COVID-19 patients. While the federal government’s response has been too slow to support these health workers — advocates are stepping in to try to help fill the gap.
Over the weekend, a pediatrician, manufacturing and supply chain expert, a graphic novelist, and a teacher teamed up to launch “Masks for America” — an all-volunteer run effort that is connecting low-cost, FDA-approved mask suppliers in China to medical facilities in need.
Masks for America, a fiscally sponsored project of 501(c)3 non-profit Social Security Works Education Fund, is working with GetUsPPE.org to distribute to the most impacted health facilities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. You can read more about Masks for America here: www.masks4america.org
The group is asking folks to fundraise and share about the call to action using the hashtags: #AmericaAssemble and #MasksForAmerica
“Frontline health care workers are putting our lives on the line — and we are running out of time to save as many patients as we can while also keeping ourselves and our families safe. We need protection now,” said Dr. Sanjeev Sriram, Washington, DC pediatrician also known as Dr. America through his work with We Act Radio and Social Security Works. “You don’t need a medical degree to help — you just need $2 or a few minutes to ask your friends and together we’ll start to fill the gap immediately.”
The group raised $22,000 in just the first 24 hours, and is slated to send their first shipments of N95 equivalent masks to hospitals in New York City and Puerto Rico this week. Masks for America is also connecting hospitals and health facilities — who would prefer to purchase supplies — directly with manufacturers. Actor Mark Ruffalo was one of the first donors to the effort.
The face of Masks for America is La Borinqueña, a Puerto Rican comic book superhero created by award-winning graphic novelist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez.
”Creating a superhero in this time means that she has to stand for justice in the real world.” said Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, award winning graphic novelist and philanthropist. “La Borinqueña is a character I created that represents today’s need for heroism.”
“We shouldn’t have to crowdfund to get PPE to frontline health care workers, but here we are. We’re putting out an all-hands-on-deck call for help, and America is rising to it,” said Kristin Mink, a DC teacher and organizer.
“I’m a mom, and I want to make sure my kids know that when a crisis strikes — you help,” said Bob Bland, a veteran of supply chain management and manufacturing from New York City, and a co-founder of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington. “If we can’t support the most vulnerable in this defining moment, when will we?”