Bank Of America Gives 600K Face Masks To Underserved Communities

Press release from Bank of America:

Sept. 18, 2020

Bank of America has been working with local partners in cities across the country to provide resources to vulnerable and underserved communities hardest hit by the coronavirus. While the number of new coronavirus cases is decreasing in Houston, Bank of America has partnered with the Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force and Houston Food Bank to provide 600,000 face masks to Houstonians living in the neighborhoods most at-risk and vulnerable to COVID-19 community spread.

“Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus and we must work together to protect the health and safety of families in our community,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “As a result of Bank of America’s support, the City of Houston will distribute masks in our Complete Communities and other areas where there is a need to address disparities during the pandemic.”

“Community partners like Bank of America are so important to Houston Food Bank at any time, but most especially now as we continue to face one of the most critical times of need ever encountered,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “As we work to help those in need of assistance, having the support of amazing partners makes the task more manageable. Being able to provide masks and PPE alongside food to those in need as well as people assisting in food distributions is providing more comprehensive assistance and care.”

This donation is part of a nationwide effort by Bank of America and is connected to its $1 billion, four-year commitment of additional support to help local communities address economic and racial inequality accelerated by a global pandemic. This is in addition to the 4 million face masks donated earlier this year in cities across the country.

“The health and safety of our employees, clients and our community remain our top priorities during this health and humanitarian crisis,” said Hong Ogle, Bank of America market president, Houston. “One demonstration of this commitment is our collaboration with local partners to identify and distribute face masks to areas that are at higher risk from the virus, such as to neighborhoods with poor air quality, low-to-moderate income families unable to acquire proper masks, and communities of color, in addition to frontline workers, schools and health centers serving these populations.”

Below is more information about how the 600,000 face masks will be distributed in Houston.

• 300,000 face masks along with food and school supplies will be distributed to elementary students who qualify for free lunch from 17 greater Houston-area independent school districts.
• 200,000 face masks will be distributed to the H.E.R. Task Force 27 priority neighborhoods, which include the city’s 10 Complete Communities. Determined by CDC Social Vulnerability data and health and accessibility data, these area neighborhoods have the greatest vulnerability to the spread of COVID-19 and the highest percentage of population at risk to severe-to-fatal outcomes after contracting the disease. Priority neighborhoods include Acres Home, Greater Third Ward, Gulfton, Kashmere Gardens and Sunnyside.
• 100,000 face masks for the Houston Food Bank, which will be distributed with food delivery to underserved and underemployed families and volunteers through partner pantries, mobile distributions, and Neighborhood Super Sites.

For more information on how the bank is supporting employees, clients and communities during this time, see latest updates here.

This press release was produced by Bank of America. The views expressed here are the author's own.