Urgent Need

There is a major shortage of face masks of all types throughout the United States, including medical-grade masks for medical professionals. Just as importantly, non-surgical grade masks are needed by vulnerable people and those who are engaged in activities that still bring them in contact with other people.

Help us provide masks to:

• Seniors
• Senior home workers
• Homeless shelters
• Grocery store workers

and others who continue to offer essential services to all of us.

With the shortage for masks not ending anytime soon, and the need for it continuing to grow, we have to take action now to meet this critical need. You can help us do just that.

The Campaign

The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) is partnering with AST Sportswear to donate non-surgical grade cotton masks to vulnerable people in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The average cost to manufacture the masks is only $2.50. You can help provide:

• 10 masks $25
• 20 masks for $50
• 40 masks for $100
• Or any amount you can give

The partnership with AST Sportswear, the largest T-shirt manufacturer in the United States, is aimed at providing some protection for workers coming in contact with others, as well as the elderly and residents at places including assisted-living facilities and homeless shelters. ​

AST Sportswear recently shifted its business model and trained its 500-employee workforce to produce three-layered cotton masks for donation to medical personnel and other first responders. 

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How the Funds Will Be Used

100% of the funds raised online through LaunchGood will be used to pay the workers and for the materials used to produce the masks at cost. None of the online donations will be kept by CAIR-LA or any profits made by AST for this campaign.

In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“In light of the shortage of medical grade masks in the country, CAIR-LA is proud to be able to partner with AST Sportswear to donate these face masks to assist the most vulnerable get some protection during this pandemic. We are proud to see a Muslim-owned business stepping up to assist people – for free – and keep its employees working in this time of crisis.”

CAIR-LA began the partnership with AST Sportwear by donating 1,000 non-surgical grade cotton masks to the City of Los Angeles for first responders and essential workers.

“When the office of [Los Angeles] Mayor Eric Garcetti expressed an interest in launching an effort to distribute masks to Angelinos engaged in activities that still bring them in contact with other people, we were happy to participate with AST Sportswear to assist,” Ayloush said.