7K N95 Masks Donated To Burlington County Amid Coronavirus Fight

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — The Habitat for Humanity of Burlington and Mercer counties has donated 7,000 N95 masks to the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management to use or distribute as part of the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced on Wednesday.

“Habitat for Humanity does phenomenal work every day to help families obtain secure and safe housing. Donating these masks is another community service they’re performing, and we can’t thank them enough for going above and beyond to help us in our coronavirus response,” Burlington County Freeholder Dan O’Connell said. “We all know 2020 has been a year unlike any of us have ever experienced, but it’s actions like this that will help get us through.”

O’Connell collected the donation Thursday morning with Emergency Management Coordinator Darrel Williams and other members of the County’s emergency management team.

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As of Monday, there have been 17,761 cases of the coronavirus, and 538 confirmed deaths and 58 probable deaths in the county since the beginning of the pandemic.

During that time, Burlington County has distributed more than 2 million items of personal protective equipment and supplies to first responders, municipalities and long-term care facilities in order to help safeguard essential workers and vulnerable residents.

Lori Leonard, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Burlington and Mercer Counties, said the organization was thrilled it could support the county’s response to the pandemic.

“We know that this protective equipment is a necessity and essential, and we thought that by donating them to the county they would go to where they’re most needed,” Leonard said.

“We know these masks will be put to good use as we continue to work to ensure our first responders and health care workers are properly supplied, along with those charged with caring for our vulnerable residents in long-term care facilities,” O’Connell said. “We’re grateful to have a partner like Habitat for Humanity help us with this important work.”