WASHINGTON MASK CHALLENGE
UPDATE: The Washington Mask Challenge is no longer facilitating the donation of face masks. You may still find organizations accepting homemade masks by clicking here.
The Lt. Governor’s office has partnered with the United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and Serve Washington to organize a statewide homemade mask-making initiative to encourage the general public to make, wear, and donate cloth masks.
WHY
There are many organizations in our state that need cloth masks right now. These include nursing homes, homelessness service organizations, food banks, grocery stores, restaurants, and more. Although these organizations are working in close contact with potentially vulnerable populations every day, they are not requesting N95 or other manufactured masks, which must be prioritized for frontline healthcare providers working with COVID-19 patients.
Members of the general public should also be wearing some kind of cloth covering over the nose and mouth whenever going out to perform essential activities, per Center for Disease Control and State Department of Health guidelines. As a reminder, cloth masks are NOT a replacement for social distancing and proper hand-washing.