Free N-95 Masks for Local Businesses and Nonprofits

With the increasing COVID-19 case numbers, spread of the highly contagious Delta variant and new masking regulations, the Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has found itself once again donating 200,000 N-95 masks to local businesses and nonprofits throughout the county.

“We did this a year ago. This is not where we hoped to be right now,” said Susan Seaman, program director for AEDC. “Still, I’m grateful that we can again provide materials to keep our businesses safe and open. I also continue to be so amazed at the collaborative nature of our community who pulled together all of these events in less than a week.”

Businesses can collect free personal protective equipment at various locations, with any remaining masks available for pickup after tomorrow’s events. Masks will be distributed while supplies last. 

Here is a list of Tuesday’s distribution sites:

• Arcata: The city of Arcata will host an event for people to pick up materials at the City Hall parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arcata Chamber of Commerce and Arcata Main Street are partnering with the City for distribution.
• Greater Eureka Area: Arcata Economic Development Corporation will host a drive-through distribution event at the Eureka Mall on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held on the Henderson Street side of the mall. The city of Eureka, Eureka Main Street and Eureka Chamber of Commerce are partnering to help distribute masks in Eureka.
• Fortuna/Eel River Valley: Fortuna Chamber will have a distribution event for materials on Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fortuna Chamber, 735 14th St. The Fortuna Business Improvement District is working with the Fortuna Chamber to distribute masks.
• McKinleyville: McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their distribution event at the McKinleyville Chamber at 1640 Central Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Southern Humboldt: Materials will be distributed at the Garberville Chamber of Commerce at 782 Redwood Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Southern Humboldt Visitor Center Bureau is partnering with the chamber to distribute masks.

According to the release, Blue Lake, Trinidad and Rio Dell will also be distributing PPE to local businesses in their cities.

Read the full press release below.

200,000 N-95 MASKS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES FOR FREE; DISTRIBUTION EVENTS TO BE HELD TUESDAY, AUG. 24

In the face of rising COVID numbers in Humboldt County, Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is organizing the distribution of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), 200,000 N-95 regulation face masks for small businesses and nonprofits to use in response to the revived mask regulation. The masks will be distributed free of charge thanks to a contribution from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the Office of the Small Business Advocate and PPE Unite.

There will be distribution events held throughout the county next Tuesday Aug. 24 with the remaining masks available to schedule for pick up around the community after the events. Masks will be distributed until the supplies run out.

“We did this a year ago. This is not where we hoped to be right now,” said Susan Seaman, program director for AEDC. “Still, I’m grateful that we can again provide materials to keep our businesses safe and open. I also continue to be so amazed at the collaborative nature of our community who pulled together all of these events in less than a week. Besides our distribution partners, the City of Eureka received and is storing several pallets of masks and the Pierson Company immediately allowed the use of their parking lot for drive through distribution site. These things could be big hurdles. They aren’t when we all work together.”

Here is a list of where businesses can pick up their PPE on Tuesday, Aug. 24.  Businesses are not required to be part of any organization to receive masks.

Arcata: The City of Arcata will host an event for people to pick up materials at the City Hall parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arcata Chamber of Commerce and Arcata Main Street are partnering with the City for distribution.

Greater Eureka Area: Arcata Economic Development Corporation will host a drive-through distribution event at the Eureka Mall on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held on the Henderson Street side of the mall. The City of Eureka, Eureka Main Street and Eureka Chamber of Commerce are partnering to help distribute masks in Eureka.

Fortuna/Eel River Valley: Fortuna Chamber will have a distribution event for materials on Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fortuna Chamber, 735 14th St, Fortuna. Fortuna Business Improvement District is working with the Fortuna Chamber to distribute masks.

McKinleyville: McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their distribution event at the McKinleyville Chamber at 1640 Central Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southern Humboldt: Materials will be distributed at the Garberville Chamber of Commerce at 782 Redwood Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Southern Humboldt Visitor Center Bureau is partnering with the Chamber to distribute masks.

After the distribution date, businesses can schedule a time to pick up additional masks at one of the many partner locations in the County by going to ppeunite.org.

Additional communities will be distributing masks to their businesses. Contact the City of Blue Lake, the City of Rio Dell, the City of Trinidad for more information. Willow Creek Chamber of Commerce will be distributing their masks through Coast Central Credit Union in Willow Creek.

This distribution is done with the help from the COVID Economic Resiliency Consortium (CERC), a group of business and economic development advocates who have been providing updates, sharing resources, and ensuring consistent communication to our community’s businesses and public-at-large about COVID 19 since March 2020.

For questions about masks or mask distribution, please call Susan Seaman at (707) 798-6132 ext. 212 or email susans@aedc1.org.

This article appears in ‘Beacons of Hope’.