City Residents and Organizations Encouraged to Request Free Face Masks
April 7, 2021
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza announced today that AIS, a Massachusetts-based company with ties to the ‘Make a Wish’ Foundation has donated and delivered 25,000 high-quality face masks to the City of Providence.
“Ensuring our community members have access to protective face coverings at no cost is important as we continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “Providence is incredibly grateful to receive such a generous donation from AIS and we encourage residents and local non-profits to immediately call 3-1-1 to request face coverings to help protect our residents in need.”
Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, AIS has selected the City of Providence as a recipient of personal protective equipment as part of the company’s nationwide program to support cities in need of COVID-19 response supplies. The donation initiative to U.S. cities was launched in January through AIS’s larger Sew the Masks effort in conjunction with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts. AIS and its corporate sponsor partners have donated and distributed nearly 600,000 face masks to organizations across the United States. AIS began making high-quality face masks last spring.
“No citizen should be worried about access to personal protective equipment as we continue to fight this pandemic,” said AIS President and CEO Bruce Platzman. “We are grateful to the City Providence who partnered with us to be able to support the community with these high-quality, comfortable and reusable masks.”
Masks are available on a first-come-first-served basis and intended for residents or non-profits in need of personal protective equipment. Providence residents ages 18 and older living in zip codes 02904, 02905, 02907, 02908, and 02909 are also encouraged to register for vaccine clinics currently posted on the City’s online portal VaccinatePVD.com. Appointments are available on a first-come-first-served basis. All Providence COVID-19 vaccines are available to residents at no cost and insurance is not required. Vaccines are available to all eligible residents of all immigration statuses.
Residents who would like to request masks or book a vaccine appointment are encouraged to call and connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 3-1-1 or (401) 421-2489. For more information on the local response to COVID-19, residents can visit our website, call to connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services, visiting www.PVD311.com or downloading the PVD311 mobile app on your smartphone for 24/7 access.