Getting masks in the hands of people who need them
In the spring of 2020, guidance from public health authorities recommended people wear face coverings when in a community setting.
Around this time, United Way East Ontario was approached by Ottawa Public Health to help get masks in the hands of those who needed them. We knew many people did not have the means to purchase masks for themselves or their families. Those who face homelessness can’t always clean or store them safely, meaning
they would need disposable masks. For some, especially isolated seniors, buying online isn’t possible.
Everyone deserves to help flatten the curve by protecting themselves and those around them. So, as part of United Way’s Local Love in a Global Crisis work, we launched Facing Forward in June 2020, a short-term social enterprise that would ensure that our communities’ most vulnerable people could have access to face masks.
In the spring of 2020, guidance from public health authorities recommended people wear face coverings when in a community setting.
Around this time, United Way East Ontario was approached by Ottawa Public Health to help get masks in the hands of those who needed them. We knew many people did not have the means to purchase masks for themselves or their families. Those who face homelessness can’t always clean or store them safely, meaning
they would need disposable masks. For some, especially isolated seniors, buying online isn’t possible.
Everyone deserves to help flatten the curve by protecting themselves and those around them. So, as part of United Way’s Local Love in a Global Crisis work, we launched Facing Forward in June 2020, a short-term social enterprise that would ensure that our communities’ most vulnerable people could have access to face masks.
Thanks to donations from individuals and partners, as well as the 53,650 Facing Forward cloth masks purchased, we were able to get more than 535,000 masks into the hands of
people in need across East Ontario.
Throughout the year, people participated in Facing Forward in many ways: by buying our cloth masks online, at Circle K and Mac’s locations, or OC Transpo stations (with proceeds going to help those in need), making masks, donating funds, or donating other PPE in-kind.
people in need across East Ontario.
Throughout the year, people participated in Facing Forward in many ways: by buying our cloth masks online, at Circle K and Mac’s locations, or OC Transpo stations (with proceeds going to help those in need), making masks, donating funds, or donating other PPE in-kind.
