Ocean State Job Lot’s Peterborough location is among 140 OSJL stores nationwide offering free fabric to customers to be used in sewing homemade facemasks.
Free, high-quality cotton-polyester blended fabric, in the form of cloth napkins and tablecloths, is available at the Peterborough store. The fabric is limited to one piece per person, store employees clarified Tuesday afternoon, though some pieces are indeed tablecloth-sized. The company is also encouraging groups and organizations who can create masks at scale to speak with their local store leaders to coordinate large orders.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all Americans wear cloth face masks in public in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“During this critically-important time, it’s our responsibility as community partners to think outside of the box and provide as much assistance as we can,” said Paul Conforti, Chief Marketing Officer of Ocean State Job Lot. “While we’ve been focused on sourcing critical supplies and medical grade masks for healthcare professionals and first responders battling COVID-19, our ‘Mask Fabric For Free’ campaign specifically focuses on the needs of everyday people who are looking for responsible ways to protect themselves and others.”
OSJL also continues to utilize its global supply chain to source one million critically-needed surgical and N95 face masks, which are being donated to hospitals and other medical facilities in the region. Last week alone, the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation donated essential items, and also sold items below cost, to organizations including Rhode Island Hospital, Bradley Hospital, RI Free Clinic, Boston Medical Center, the State of Rhode Island, and multiple fire and police departments. These essential items included thousands of masks, gloves, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, hazmat suits, eye protection and more.