bonds donates masks for vulnerable cohealth clients

With mandatory face coverings likely to continue for some months, cohealth made a public call-out for donations of masks for their vulnerable clients and Bonds has responded with an offer of 5,000 reusable masks.

Thanks to the donation, cohealth is now distributing the masks to people experiencing homelessness, clients from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, people in marginal accommodation such as rooming houses and caravan parks, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and people living in public housing.

The Bonds masks are in addition to disposable masks supplied by DHHS.

“For people living on very low incomes the cost of reusable masks can be prohibitive. Buying food and paying the rent is hard enough, and budgets don’t stretch to purchasing masks,” said cohealth CE, Nicole Bartholomeusz.

“These are the people who can least afford a $200 fine for failing to wear a mask.”

“The people we work with want to do all they can to comply with health advice. We are grateful to Bonds for enabling us to provide reusable masks to people who don’t have the means to purchase them,” said Ms Bartholomeusz.

Emily Small, General Manager Brands, Hanes, said, “We saw that vulnerable people in our community may not be able to get access to masks and wanted to do our part to support them.”

“Bonds cotton face masks are reusable and washable which helps provide people with a sustainable product that negates the need for single use disposable masks. We are proud to be able to support cohealth to help protect Australian communities in need.”

All Victorians must wear a face mask when leaving home unless they have a lawful exemption. Wearing a face mask covering has been proven to reduce the spread of coronavirus by providing an additional physical barrier.

Get the latest advice on wearing face coverings in Victoria
Watch this video about how to safely wear a face covering

Photo: Melanie Block, from cohealth’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Team, unpacks the Bonds masks ready to distribute to vulnerable clients.