Statewide initiative encourages Washingtonians to make, wear, and donate cloth face masks
Information released by the Washington Lt. Governor’s Office
Dear Friends, — My office just launched the Washington Mask Challenge, a statewide initiative to encourage Washingtonians to make, wear, and donate homemade cloth face masks. I’m hoping you will join me in taking up this challenge!
The Washington Mask Challenge is a partnership between the State of Washington, United Way, and Serve Washington. The program will facilitate homemade mask donations from the general public to organizations in need such as nursing homes, homeless shelters, food banks, and more. These organizations regularly work with at-risk populations, but they are not requesting N95 or other manufactured masks for themselves, because those masks must be reserved for frontline healthcare providers. Instead, you can support our state’s essential workers by following these simple instructions to make and send cloth masks.
Gov. Inslee has urged Washingtonians to participate in the challenge, saying:
“While Washingtonians are staying home and staying healthy, they can support those working on the frontlines by participating in the Washington Mask Challenge. I thank Lt. Governor Habib for leading this effort, and I ask my fellow Washingtonians to use this as an opportunity to give back to those who have kept all of us afloat through this difficult time.”
This program follows new CDC and DOH guidance advising the general public to wear masks while performing essential activities. It is important to note that cloth masks are not meant as a replacement for social distancing or proper hand washing, which are still necessary to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.
To participate in the Washington Mask Challenge, please visit WAMaskChallenge.org.
Sincerely,
Cyrus Habib
P.S. The Washington Mask Challenge is also a great hands-on learning opportunity for kids!
