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Santa Barbara, Calif. - Direct Relief International and Santa Barbara County Public Health will be distributing more free masks this Saturday at the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center at East Beach in Santa Barbara from 10:30 am to 2 pm. This event follows Friday's successful distribution of thousands of N-95 particulate respirators to Santa Barbara area residents.
The N-95 masks, which are easy to wear, help their wearer avoid inhaling harmful particulate matter in the smoke and ash. Residents with respiratory conditions like asthma, older adults, and those who must be outdoors for long periods are encouraged to come by and pick up a free mask for themselves or family and friends.
Direct Relief has secured generous donations of 24,800 more N-95 respirators masks to help residents of Santa Barbara County avoid the harmful effects of smoke and ash from the Tea Fire. Longtime donor 3M is providing 20,000 masks, with an additional 4,800 coming from Zee Medical, also a prior supporter.
Medline Industries, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, has also offered a below-wholesale price on its masks, which Direct Relief has purchased with emergency funds.
The masks will be delivered to Direct Relief's Goleta headquarters tonight and through next week to replenish stocks as needed. The region has been under an air quality advisory due to smoke and ash from the Tea Fire, which has burned 1,500 acres as of 8 PM Thursday.
ABOUT DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief works in 59 countries and has delivered more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian medical aid to health professionals serving impoverished communities since 2000. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for five consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California's largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.
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