New York Youth for Masks: COVID-19 Support Fund
Donation protected
Youth for Masks is an initiative that is raising funds and securing personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline medical professionals in their battle against COVID-19. New York Youth for Masks is a sister team of Washington Youth for Masks that delivered over 30,000 medical masks to hospitals in Washington. New York Youth for Masks aims to supply ~30,000 medical masks to nursing homes throughout New York. These FDA approved masks are secured through connections with medical supply workers in China, ensuring a necessary, faster delivery of masks.
Why Donate
While COVID-19 is affecting everyone’s lives, the elderly are among the most vulnerable. “Infections among employees have exacerbated staffing shortages that predated the outbreak, and facilities have faced challenges getting the necessary protective equipment” Hanse, the president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, said (see source here ).
Although we now have a running systematic supply from state and federal agencies for hospitals and clinics, we may have ignored the fact that there are thousands of vulnerable elderlies and caregivers in nursing homes throughout New York. Each of the 12 nursing homes in Dutchess county are in need of 1200 to 2400 masks each day.
We are holding this fundraising campaign in order to secure medical masks quickly, and are grateful to have connections to the Well Klein factory, alongside other reputable, FDA approved factories in China. We cannot solely rely on state and federal agencies to distribute masks, as time is critical. Instead, we have the ability to get these supplies to these nursing homes within 5-7 days.
Our fundraiser will help relieve nursing homes of some of the financial burden of buying protective gear to take care of the elderly. With your donations, we will do our part to help these nursing homes and protect the elderly.
GOAL
The first $10,000 will be committed to obtaining ~20,000 FDA approved medical grade surgical masks from Well Klein factory in China to be distributed across 5 or more nursing homes (depending on changing international flight costs).
For every $5,000 raised, we will purchase ~10,000 masks, and so on.
Any additional funds raised will be used towards purchasing additional masks for other medical facilities and first responders across Dutchess County.
*If unforeseen circumstances arise and international shipping is blocked anytime in the future, we will ensure that all donations go to domestic orders of the masks.
Nursing Homes
Lutheran Care Center at Concord Village
Wingate at Dutchess
The Pines at Poughkeepsie
Elant at Wappingers Falls
Dutchess Assisted Living Center
The Baptist Home
ACCOUNTABILITY
We will post continual updates and pictures of the masks collected on our social media accounts and website below in order to ensure that 100% of the donation goes to purchasing masks.
Our Story
We are two high school students, John Diamond and Venuri Atulugama, trying to make a difference in this pandemic. This project is a small step towards a lifelong journey of taking initiative. We want to encourage unity and togetherness to battle the divisions that this pandemic has caused, as well as to spread awareness to other youth about the risks to their health and their key role in stopping the spread. At this especially critical time, our close connections to medical supply workers in China will ensure a necessary and quick delivery of masks so that immediate care and relief can be provided to our community.
Who We Are
John Diamond is a sophomore at Arlington High School. He is in the Boy Scouts of America and has worked in charity events such as soup kitchens. He is a life scout soon to be an eagle scout which is the highest rank in the BSA. His old scoutmaster was infected with the virus which hospitalized and even put him in the ICU twice; luckily he survived and is now recovering. This event inspired John Diamond to help so that he could help prevent situations like this.
Venuri Atulugama is a sophomore at Arlington High School. She was a part of Girl Scouts, does charity work for Dutchess Outreach, and is a part of Beekman’s Teen Leadership Council (TLC). Close family members and friends have been affected by COVID-19. This inspired Venuri to prevent others from the harm of COVID-19, and help patients and essential workers with the supplies needed.
FAQ
How much of the donation is directed to purchasing the masks?
100% of the funds will go towards the purchase and delivery of masks for healthcare workers at these nursing homes. Our work is completely volunteer-based and grows with community support. If we raise more than $10,000, we will continue to purchase and distribute masks to other places such as hospitals.
How do we know the money we donate will go towards acquiring masks for hospitals?
We will post frequent updates on our social media with photos with receipts.
How will the nursing homes receive the masks?
The masks will arrive at our residential address. We will then bring the masks to the nursing homes ourselves.
How to help
- Please spread the word! Sharing this GoFundMe page will be greatly appreciated.
- We also work with the Washington Youth for Masks team. If you would like to donate to them too, click here .
-Contact us through email: [email redacted] or [email redacted]
- Check out our website to see our entire team!!!
- If you share our goals and would like to join the team, please contact us through our email. We are welcoming more members! These members have a role in starting their own local projects to help benefit the cause!
Why Donate
While COVID-19 is affecting everyone’s lives, the elderly are among the most vulnerable. “Infections among employees have exacerbated staffing shortages that predated the outbreak, and facilities have faced challenges getting the necessary protective equipment” Hanse, the president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, said (see source here ).
Although we now have a running systematic supply from state and federal agencies for hospitals and clinics, we may have ignored the fact that there are thousands of vulnerable elderlies and caregivers in nursing homes throughout New York. Each of the 12 nursing homes in Dutchess county are in need of 1200 to 2400 masks each day.
We are holding this fundraising campaign in order to secure medical masks quickly, and are grateful to have connections to the Well Klein factory, alongside other reputable, FDA approved factories in China. We cannot solely rely on state and federal agencies to distribute masks, as time is critical. Instead, we have the ability to get these supplies to these nursing homes within 5-7 days.
Our fundraiser will help relieve nursing homes of some of the financial burden of buying protective gear to take care of the elderly. With your donations, we will do our part to help these nursing homes and protect the elderly.
GOAL
The first $10,000 will be committed to obtaining ~20,000 FDA approved medical grade surgical masks from Well Klein factory in China to be distributed across 5 or more nursing homes (depending on changing international flight costs).
For every $5,000 raised, we will purchase ~10,000 masks, and so on.
Any additional funds raised will be used towards purchasing additional masks for other medical facilities and first responders across Dutchess County.
*If unforeseen circumstances arise and international shipping is blocked anytime in the future, we will ensure that all donations go to domestic orders of the masks.
Nursing Homes
Lutheran Care Center at Concord Village
Wingate at Dutchess
The Pines at Poughkeepsie
Elant at Wappingers Falls
Dutchess Assisted Living Center
The Baptist Home
ACCOUNTABILITY
We will post continual updates and pictures of the masks collected on our social media accounts and website below in order to ensure that 100% of the donation goes to purchasing masks.
Our Story
We are two high school students, John Diamond and Venuri Atulugama, trying to make a difference in this pandemic. This project is a small step towards a lifelong journey of taking initiative. We want to encourage unity and togetherness to battle the divisions that this pandemic has caused, as well as to spread awareness to other youth about the risks to their health and their key role in stopping the spread. At this especially critical time, our close connections to medical supply workers in China will ensure a necessary and quick delivery of masks so that immediate care and relief can be provided to our community.
Who We Are
John Diamond is a sophomore at Arlington High School. He is in the Boy Scouts of America and has worked in charity events such as soup kitchens. He is a life scout soon to be an eagle scout which is the highest rank in the BSA. His old scoutmaster was infected with the virus which hospitalized and even put him in the ICU twice; luckily he survived and is now recovering. This event inspired John Diamond to help so that he could help prevent situations like this.
Venuri Atulugama is a sophomore at Arlington High School. She was a part of Girl Scouts, does charity work for Dutchess Outreach, and is a part of Beekman’s Teen Leadership Council (TLC). Close family members and friends have been affected by COVID-19. This inspired Venuri to prevent others from the harm of COVID-19, and help patients and essential workers with the supplies needed.
FAQ
How much of the donation is directed to purchasing the masks?
100% of the funds will go towards the purchase and delivery of masks for healthcare workers at these nursing homes. Our work is completely volunteer-based and grows with community support. If we raise more than $10,000, we will continue to purchase and distribute masks to other places such as hospitals.
How do we know the money we donate will go towards acquiring masks for hospitals?
We will post frequent updates on our social media with photos with receipts.
How will the nursing homes receive the masks?
The masks will arrive at our residential address. We will then bring the masks to the nursing homes ourselves.
How to help
- Please spread the word! Sharing this GoFundMe page will be greatly appreciated.
- We also work with the Washington Youth for Masks team. If you would like to donate to them too, click here .
-Contact us through email: [email redacted] or [email redacted]
- Check out our website to see our entire team!!!
- If you share our goals and would like to join the team, please contact us through our email. We are welcoming more members! These members have a role in starting their own local projects to help benefit the cause!
Fundraising team: New York Youth for Masks (11)
John Diamond
Organizer
Poughkeepsie, NY
Susan Diamond
Beneficiary
Kayla Lueken
Team member
Sara Anderson
Team member
Ellie Winter
Team member
Makenna Moore
Team member