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News | April 15, 2021

DLA supports White House effort to supply masks for low-income communities

By Matthew Mahoney and Dawn Bonsell DLA Distribution Public Affairs

The Defense Logistics Agency is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture to provide more than 25 million cloth masks to low-income communities.

The White House announced the effort Feb. 24 stating that the free masks will be high-quality, washable and consistent with mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DLA supports White House effort to supply masks for low-income communities
In support of a White House effort to deliver 25 million cloth masks to food banks and community health centers, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, receives the first shipment of 20,000 masks, April 9, 2021. Photo by Matthew Mahoney.
DLA supports White House effort to supply masks for low-income communities
DLA supports White House effort to supply masks for low-income communities
In support of a White House effort to deliver 25 million cloth masks to food banks and community health centers, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, receives the first shipment of 20,000 masks, April 9, 2021. Photo by Matthew Mahoney.
Photo By: Matthew Mahoney
VIRIN: 210409-D-VQ057-0018

“All of these masks will be made in America and will not impact availability of masks for health care workers,” the statement said.

DLA Distribution is receiving and packing the masks for shipment to HHS-supplied addresses for community health centers and USDA-supplied addresses for food banks that serve 60,000 food pantries, soup kitchens and other food distribution points where workers will give the masks to 12 to 15 million low-income individuals through May.

The first 20,000 masks arrived at DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, April 9 and will ship to pilot locations in New York, Illinois, Washington and Arkansas. Another 3,300 pallets of masks are scheduled to arrive later this month and will be repackaged and shipped to 1,400 community health centers, about 125 tribal organizations and 200 food banks across the country.