Felton Institute is the grateful recipient of more than 1,000 face masks, handmade by the “It Takes A Village” (ITAV) organization, as part of its health equity mission to provide masks to those who need them. The donation arrives at a time of uncertainty as COVID-19 variants spread and masks have been re-mandated in Bay Area counties.
ITAV has donated 1,245 adult and 450 small fabric face masks to Felton, as well as 1,890 refurbished N95’s and 889 face shields. These face masks will be distributed across Felton’s programs to help keep our clients and providers healthy and safe.
ITAV is an all-volunteer, rapid response organization formed by local volunteers and businesses to make and donate PPE across the Bay Area in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. East Bay entrepreneur Shelly Wong formed the organization in March 2020 after talking with a friend who is an ER doctor at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Wong quickly assembled a team to build as much protective gear as possible.
The organization has since grown to more than 400 volunteers crafting across the San Francisco Bay Area. The volunteers work together to supply face masks, face shields, refurbished N95s, and other PPE to over 100 different recipients across San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.
The community of volunteers contribute from home to cut, sew, wash, iron, sort, and deliver cloth masks, and to assemble face shields, and refurbish N95’s. While most of the volunteers have never met, that has not hindered friendships and mutual respect formed through shared commitment to supporting the community. Felton Institute is proud to be able to get the face masks to more people who need them.
About Felton Institute: Founded in 1889, Felton Institute responds to human needs by providing cutting edge, evidence-based mental health and social services that transform lives. Felton Institute is a tax-exempt organization registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-1156530. Offering more than 50 acclaimed and honored programs that address homelessness, mental health, prenatal, adolescent, adult, and senior needs, Felton Institute provides services in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, and Monterey counties. Felton’s social services and programs utilize the latest scientific research, combining cultural sensitivity, deep respect for client and staff, and a commitment to social justice. Felton is the oldest non-sectarian and nonprofit social services provider in the City and County of San Francisco. For over a century, Felton Institute has been at the forefront of social service innovation, pioneering new approaches to meet underserved populations’ emerging needs. At the heart of our work is the belief that individuals and families in crisis must have access to services and resources to help them build on their inherent strengths and develop self-sufficiency. www.felton.org