Free mask distribution continues with more ward-based drive-through events

‘Pop-up’ neighborhood events also announced 

New Bedford, Massachusetts–MaskNB, an initiative announced earlier this year by Mayor Jon Mitchell in partnership with the Southeastern Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross and Joseph Abboud Manufacturing Corporation, announces additional mask distribution in July and August with more drive-through distribution events at the three New Bedford middle schools’ parking lots.

Distribution of free masks as part of MaskNB began in May and has continued with more than 52,000 masks provided to New Bedford residents.

Walk-up distribution events in several neighborhoods are also planned for neighborhood residents.

The ward-based distribution will continue by an organized drive-through system for cars, observing social distancing, in the New Bedford middle schools’ parking lots. Residents are asked to limit their mask requests to those in their household and/or any elderly or vulnerable neighbors.

Any resident who is unsure of the Ward in which they live may visit wheredoivotema.com and enter their address. This website provides polling location, and the first information noted is the Ward in which the resident lives. Residents do not need to be registered voters to use this online tool.

Continuing Ward-Based Mask Distribution at City’s Middle Schools

Under the MaskNB distribution plan, interested residents in each of the City’s six Wards will have an opportunity to obtain free cloth face masks on the following assigned dates in these locations:

  • Wards 1 & 2

    Saturday, July 18 – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Normandin Middle School, 81 Felton Street (use Orleans Street entrance)

  • Wards 3 & 4

    Saturday, August 1 – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Boulevard

  • Wards 5 & 6

    Saturday, August 8 – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Roosevelt Middle School, 119 Frederick Street

    Neighborhood Level Walk-Up Mask Distribution

    Four neighborhood walk-up distribution events are planned in neighborhoods across New Bedford for residents of those neighborhoods only. These smaller distribution events will be held at pop-up tents and observe social distancing in public spaces across the city on the following assigned dates in these locations:

  • Riverside Park– Tuesday, July 7 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Ashley Park– Tuesday, July 21 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Serenity Gardens– Thursday, July 30 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Loretta Bourque Park – Thursday, August 13 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

Additional dates may be announced based on available supplies.

Mayor Jon Mitchell announced the MaskNB initiative on May 14. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the wearing of cloth face coverings in public where social distancing is difficult to maintain; cloth face coverings are not a substitute for medical-grade masks, but provide more protection against the spread of viruses than not covering one’s face. More information about the use and effectiveness of cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.