Bridgewater Commons Celebrates 'The Mask Squad' This Holiday

Press release from Bridgewater Commons:

Dec. 7, 2020

Proudly giving back to unsung heroes of its local community, Bridgewater Commons, the more than 1.2 million square foot shopping, dining and entertainment center, announced today it has named The Mask Squad, a Bridgewater-based non-profit, volunteer organization which began sewing face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for community’s first responders and medical workers at the start of the COVID-19 health crisis, as the recipient of its 2020 holiday season charitable efforts.

“The Mask Squad is a very special, dedicated entity filled with hope, kindness and true neighborly spirit,” remarked Bridgewater Commons Marketing Director Tom Kovacic. “During this unprecedented year we have all faced together, Bridgewater Commons is honored to not only recognize The Mask Squad and their growing team of over 250 area volunteers, but to support their efforts in helping other selfless individuals in our community who remain hard at work keeping neighbors and residents safe and protected during this time.”

With a mantra noted as “Responding to the Needs of Our Community,” The Mask Squad, founded by Bridgewater residents Jennifer Loughran and Stacey Friedlander, began when Loughran, an avid sewist, turned to her sewing machine as a means of escape when not only COVID-19 stay-at-home orders went into effect in N.J., but also when dealing with her young son’s Tay-Sachs illness, fatal in all cases by the age of five. In recent years, Loughran had found solace in sewing during a time where she experienced a series of tremendous loss including the death of her oldest daughter in 2013 from an unexplained illness quickly followed by her mother, grandmother and family dog.

Reaching out through an online forum to source supplies to create face masks given the early-on, PPE shortage, Loughran discovered friends and neighbors were eager to help her create and distribute them to local police, fire, first responders, medical workers and other at-risk individuals in need. And, since that time, The Mask Squad has enthusiastically grown to a 250-member devoted volunteer troop who have made and donated over 30,000 facemasks and other PPE materials such as face coverings for special needs individuals, surgical caps and ear guards as they also field product requests and fundraise in terms of donated materials and dollars for their operation.

The center’s support of The Mask Squad began Monday, Nov. 16 to great fanfare when the group served as Bridgewater Commons’ Guests of Honor during its Santa Arrival Ceremony to officially kick-off the holiday shopping season and open its Safe Santa Celebration photo set. Its partnership will continue throughout the giving season where Bridgewater Commons’ will help promote The Mask Squad’s overarching mission and fundraising efforts on its consumer marketing outreach platforms including website and social media channels, supply the organization with holiday-themed mask-making supplies and offer a corporation donation.

“From all of us at The Mask Squad, we are grateful to Bridgewater Commons for their support and collaboration,” said Loughran. “We believe community is strongest when it bans together for the benefit of all and to have our local shopping center recognize and reward our ongoing efforts, especially during the holiday season, is tremendous.”

To learn more about The Mask Squad, Bridgewater Commons encourages visiting www.themasksquad.com to read about the group’s inspiring story along with opportunities to assist them via supply, distribution and monetary donations to continue their work on behalf of community this holiday season.

Suggested Photo Caption: Bridgewater Commons Marketing Director Tom Kovacic (right), Bridgewater Township Mayor Matthew Moench (left) and The Mask Squad Co-Founder Jennifer Loughran and her family (middle), help Santa cut the ribbon to open the shopping center’s Safe Santa Celebration holiday photo set on Nov. 16.

Bridgewater Commons adheres to Covid-19 guidelines including:

• Masks required for all guests and Property Management employees.
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of touchpoints within common areas, restrooms, handrails, escalators and elevators using EPA-approved sanitation chemicals.
• Hand sanitizing materials, compliant with CDC standards, available to all visitors in both common areas and retail spaces.
• Hand sanitizer stations for public use near restrooms.
• Encouragement of social distancing practices, including the use of distancing markers, in high traffic areas.

For more information including a Bridgewater Commons full store directory, operating hours, driving directions and more, please visit www.bridgewatercommons.com.

This press release was produced by Bridgewater Commons. The views expressed here are the author's own.