With cases of COVID-19 surging in California, the City of Sacramento has partnered with the Ford Motor Company Fund (Ford Fund) to distribute more than 275,000 disposable masks to local residents, businesses and community-based organizations.
The masks were donated by the Ford Fund and will be distributed at the South Natomas Community Center (2921 Truxel Road), Coloma Community Center (4623 T St.) and Belle Cooledge Community Center (5699 South Land Park Drive) starting Nov. 20. Community members can receive one sealed package of 120 disposable masks from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The mask distribution is part of the Ford Fund’s “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Day” on Nov. 20. The Ford Fund has donated more than 4 million masks to partners across the state for community distribution. Free masks also are available at select Ford-area dealerships, including Folsom Lake Ford.
“We are thrilled to be the beneficiary of this generous donation from the Ford Motor Company Fund,” Councilmember Jay Schenirer said. “This donation will ensure that those most in need – including our community-based organizations working hard to provide essential services, supplies, and food to our residents – continue to do so safely this holiday season.”
This is not the first time the Ford Fund has supported Sacramento. The philanthropic organization previously gave $100,000 to Donate4Sacramento, a relief effort that raised more than $1.4 million to help local families and businesses during the pandemic.
“I would like to thank the Ford Motor Company Fund for stepping up to help Sacramento during the pandemic,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said. “From the very beginning of this health crisis, you looked out for our community by donating face shields and giving generously to our Donate4Sacramento recovery fund. This huge infusion of masks means that our families and front-line workers will be able to do what they need to do while knowing that they are protected. It has been heartening to see companies like Ford devote themselves to helping the country during this difficult time.”
Masks at the three City of Sacramento community centers are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. (Community members can call 311 to check on availability in the coming days.) In addition, the City is working with local community-based organizations — such as the La Familia Family Counseling Center, the Greater Sacramento Urban League and Hmong Youth and Parents United — to help get the masks to the people who need them most.
“The data proves that recent state and county spikes are happening in underserved communities,” Councilmember Eric Guerra said. “Now more than ever we need to ensure that families in need are able to protect themselves.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, the City of Sacramento has distributed more than 1.2 million masks to the local businesses, organizations, hospitals and schools. It also has launched dozens of programs – including forgivable loans for small businesses and free internet for families – to support Sacramentans. For a complete list of all the ways the City is helping residents, go to sacramentocovidrelief.org.
The Ford Motor Company Fund is the charitable arm of the Ford Motor Company. It has invested more than $2 billion in communities in more than 50 countries around the world since 1949. More information can be found here: https://www.fordfund.org/
The California Department of Public Health earlier this week issued updated guidance on wearing a mask. Everyone in California is required to wear a mask or face covering when outside the home (with limited exceptions) to slow the spread of COVID-19.