ASU Accepts 2,000 Masks Donated to Combat COVID-19 for Montgomery Residents

Under the threat of stormy skies, two local entities came together on June 24 to the campus of Alabama State University to donate more than 2,000 masks to ASU and its partners, the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Montgomery Housing Authority. The masks will be distributed at no cost to Montgomery-area residents in an effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19. 
 
The timely donation comes from the generosity of the Montgomery (Ala.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and Montgomery's Beauty & Beyond, Inc. The masks were given during a noon-hour ceremony to ASU President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. and Housing Authority Executive Director Damon E. Duncan at the ASU COVID-19 free testing site on campus.
 
"We are excited about the kind donation coming from both Montgomery's Links, Incorporated members and the owner of Montgomery's Beauty & Beyond company. I thank them on behalf of our COVID-19 testing site partners for these much needed masks, which will help local residents stay safe and well," Ross said, who stood behind a table covered with the donated masks. 
 
FREE MASKS COURTESY OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED AND BEAUTY & BEYOND
 
Representing members of Montgomery's Links, Inc. was its chapter president, Ann Sippial. She said that their well-respected service organization came together with Montgomery's longtime beauty product supplier, Beauty & Beyond, with a joint purpose to help and serve their local community during this time of health-related need.
 
"Links and Beauty and Beyond are glad to be a part of the solution in Montgomery in an ongoing effort to combat COVID-19 by offering free masks, which help residents stay well and comply with the new mandatory wearing of masks issued by Montgomery's mayor," Sippial said at the event. 
 
ROSS SAYS GOAL IS TO HELP KEEP RESIDENTS WELL
 
President Ross said that the goal of the University and its partners with the distribution of the free masks and the on-campus free testing is to help flatten the coronavirus pandemic curve in the Montgomery area, which has recently seen an increase of residents testing positive for the disease.
 
"We have had a free walk-up/drive through ASU COVID-19 testing site located on the campus of ASU (at the intersection of S. Jackson Street and N. University Drive), since May 6. Working together, under the on-site direction of ASU's Health Center, we have helped to put a dent in getting residents tested, but we still have more work to do to help flatten the recent increase in people testing positive," Ross emphasized before volunteers and members of the news media.
 
The Housing Authority's director stated that he and his staff are continuing to encourage its residents to stay safe by wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing their hands.
 
"Montgomery's Housing Authority is appreciative to be a partner with ASU and the State Health Department," Duncan said. "ASU is playing a vital role with us and we can't thank it or its leaders enough."
 
FREE MASKS DISTRIBUTED BY ASU HEALTH OFFICE
 
The free masks will be distributed by the ASU Health Center staff at the COVID-19 testing site, where free testing is open and available to the public on Wednesdays and on Fridays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., according to Dr. Joyce Lloyd Davis, director of ASU's Health Center.
 
"We are super excited by the donation of the masks that will allow us to give them to those who come by to be tested, as well as those who stop by just for a mask to safeguard themselves and others," Davis said.

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
 
###