Your Donations Have Kept Millions of People and Animals Safe During the Pandemic

Since 1999, GreaterGood has been working to create easy ways for changemakers like you to make an impact, both in local communities and around the globe. In that time, we’ve raised more than $75 million dollars for a wide variety of charitable causes that provide aid to people, pets, and our beautiful planet.

Through shopping, daily free clicks, donations, and more, we’ve worked together to change the world one click at a time! And we can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate your support! Thank you for helping us reach this important milestone of $75 million raised for charity! Read on to learn more about one of the many ways you’ve helped us give where it matters.


With Your Help, GreaterGood Is Masking Where It Matters!

As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, GreaterGood has been working hard to do its part to bring masks and other personal protective equipment to frontline workers and essential employees in the U.S. and across the globe.

Our original goal was to donate one million masks to those who need them most. Not only did we meet and surpass that goal within a few short months, along with our follow-up goal of two million masks, but, as of February 2nd, 2022, we had donated a whopping 4,601,239 masks!

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/SHOTMAKERS

“In response to the greatest public health crisis of our lifetime, our buyers were able to source life-saving N-95 and KN-95 masks in China, starting in March [of 2020],” says GreaterGood CEO Tim Kunin. Kunin says masks have been donated to frontline workers in nursing homes and health centers, where “inadequate PPE has been a vector for infections and deaths.”

Donations have made their way to medical professionals, elder care workers, staff and volunteers at animal shelters and wildlife sanctuaries, food service workers who aid vulnerable populations, and other frontline heroes. Thanks to the support of generous people like you, these men and women have been able to safely continue their vital work helping people, pets, and the planet.

GreaterGood has made mask donations in almost every state and in other countries, such as Mexico and Armenia. Masks have also been delivered to Native American health services organizations, border areas between Texas and Mexico, and a health clinic for refugees waiting to enter the U.S.

PHOTO: GreaterGood’s 3-ply disposable face masks

“We have now given civilian quality masks in almost every state, especially to animal shelters, teachers and food distribution workers; although the bulk of our PPE was of medical quality, which was reserved for nursing homes, health clinics and hospitals,” says Kunin. “Our staff at our fulfillment center in Michigan have become experts at receiving and sending PPE […] I am exceptionally proud of our team and customers who have continued to help heal the world, in response to the pandemic.”

Here are just some of the many ways your donations have helped us mask the people who needed it so the world could continue to go around as it did before, even during the pandemic.

Nursing Homes, Hospitals & Clinics

The residents at nursing homes and patients at hospitals and clinics are often some of the most vulnerable people in our population, making them extra susceptible to COVID-19 infection and to the various side effects and complications that sometimes come with the disease. Mask donations to these facilities has helped the elderly and ill stay COVID-free, and it has helped the employees at these facilities stay safe and able to continue working.

PHOTO: SEIU 1199

Starr County Memorial Hospital in Rio Grande, Texas, is one of the many recipients of medical-grade masks. Martha Torres, RN, DON, says the pandemic hit her small community hard and that many families had several members affected by it.

“We will forever be grateful for organizations like yours that helped this community during the most challenging times it has experienced,” says Torres. “It was so difficult to cope with so much mortality, but [we’re] also so grateful for all the success stories of recovered patients […] You all are part of making us safer!!!!”

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which is part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and roughly 2 million members strong, was also a recipient of our donated masks. So was the Community-University Health Care Center at the University of Minnesota (which employs 250 healthcare workers), among various other clinics and hospitals.

PHOTO: CUHCC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

“I wanted to send a quick note to say thank you,” writes Catherine McGlinch, associate vice president of the Medical School at the University of Minnesota Foundation. “The clinic is absolutely thrilled. I hope these [photos] show the gratitude on the faces of the team who are wearing them.”

But masks are helping in so many more ways than just protecting medical professionals and patients. They also help the people who work in a wide variety of important fields–and they can help animals too!

Animal Shelters

Several of the organizations GreaterGood has donated masks to have been animal shelters. Having masks on hand has allowed shelter workers to stay safe during the pandemic, and it has also allowed them to keep their doors open to customers who may want to adopt pets. Providing masks to animal shelters also frees up their tight budgets so they can focus more of their money directly on the animals.

“Paws4thought Animal Rescue has been able to conduct meet and greets to help our rescues find fosters and furever homes while social distancing and wearing masks provided by GreaterGood.org,” says Judy Clayton. “Masks are available for our volunteer staff, as well as potential fosters and adopters when needed.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JAMIE GIBSON, ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE OF TEXAS
LEFT: VETERINARY TECHNICIAN TYLENE AND PATIENT FRANKY
RIGHT: FOSTER COORDINATOR RUBEN TORRES GIVING A KITTEN SOME SNUGGLES BEFORE THEY HEAD TO FOSTER

“The masks were distributed primarily to our hospital and foster department, which focuses on our most vulnerable population—neonates and medical cases,” says Joel McLellan of the Animal Defense League of Texas. “It is crucial that these tiny pets are able to go to foster homes as quickly as possible. The shelter is a loud, stressful place for them and the risk of becoming ill is significantly higher if they stay on campus compared to when they are able to grow in a loving home.”

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries and preserves have been in a similar boat as animal shelters. While sanctuaries are not trying to adopt out the animals in their care, they often rely on money from patrons who come to see the animals in order to continue paying for the animals’ care and various programs that support endangered species and rehabilitation. Having free masks on hand has enabled staff members to stay safe, keep visitors safe, keep the animals safe, and keep the organizations running.

GreaterGood has donated masks to 11 sanctuaries in four African countries to help their workers and volunteers stay safe, as well as to keep their more than 1800 animals safe. This includes chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, gorillas, parrots, and other species as well.

PHOTO CREDIT: JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE
DR. REBECA ATENCIA PERFORMS AN ULTRASOUND ON A CHIMPANZEE AT TCHIMPOUNGA CHIMPANZEE REHABILITATION CENTRE.

“Chimps can die of the common cold, so the wearing of masks when we are working with them during the COVID pandemic is essential,” says Pauline Stuart, head of Chimp Eden. “The masks are assisting in the prevention of the staff from contracting COVID from the people they come into contact with and transferring it to the other staff and to our chimps.”

Services for Poverty and Homelessness

Homeless and poor populations are often forgotten during times like these. But we haven’t forgotten them! We’ve donated masks to several organizations that provide food, supplies, and services to people who are down on their luck.

LA Family Housing, for example, is dedicated to helping families and individuals in the Los Angeles area transition out of homelessness and poverty through affordable housing and a variety of supportive services, such as medical services provided through the Northeast Valley Health Center. LAFH is a regional leader in providing solutions to end homelessness.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF LA FAMILY HOUSING’S COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
DUANE PIERFAX SITS ON THE BED IN HIS PROJECT ROOMKEY HOTEL ROOM AFTER MOVING IN FROM AN ENCAMPMENT.

“This grant has helped LAFH staff continue to provide housing and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in a safe way, ensuring that households can continue on their path toward permanent housing, stability, and improved health and wellbeing,” writes Hilary Mandel, director of grants at LAFH.

LAFH’s grant report points out that many homeless people do not have access to washing machines, making access to single-use masks even more important for their safety.

Together We Rise (TWR) is another non-profit to which GreaterGood has donated masks during the pandemic. TWR has about 1,000 employees and volunteers who work with foster children in all 50 states, providing them with suitcases (“sweet cases”), stuffed animals, toys, hygiene kits, and other items to fulfill their needs and make them feel more comfortable and at home. TWR received 1,000 masks to help them continue their important work of creating a positive environment and a loving community for foster children.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF REVOLUTION FOODS

The Association of Gleaning Organizations (AGO) and Revolution Foods are two more organizations that received masks to help them continue their important work of feeding the hungry. AGO engages communities to harvest surplus produce so that no food is wasted and vulnerable populations can have better access to healthy food. Revolution Foods provides nutritious meals to students and families in need.

Literacy and Eduational Services

One of the organizations that have received masks from GreaterGood is Bernie’s Book Bank. This non-profit is dedicated to serving under-served infants, toddlers, and school-age children throughout Chicagoland who do not have access to many books to help them keep up with their peers in school. We believe in the importance of literacy, even in times like these!

“Our team takes all necessary precautions to ensure a healthy work environment which in turn allows us to continue to serve children with books during this time,” Bernie’s Book Bank stated in their grant report. “Many of the children we serve depend on us now more than ever as school closures and lack of internet access prevents them from keeping up with their peers in better-funded communities. Thanks to your generous grant, you are helping under-served children read their way to a better life!”

PHOTO: BERNIE’S BOOK BANK
THE BERNIE’S BOOK BANK TEAM MEMBERS POSE WITH SOME OF THEIR 50 HOUR CLUB VOLUNTEERS AT THE GLEN ELLYN BOOK DROP EVENT, WHICH BROUGHT IN NEARLY 15,000 GENTLY USED BOOKS.

“We were so excited to receive this generous grant as it alleviates Bernie’s Book Bank from spending our limited resources,” the grant report continues. “Face masks are vital tools required by all team members and volunteers both in our facility and at off-site locations such as book drop events. Your generosity has allowed us to commit to these events as we continue to collect, process, and distribute new and gently-used children’s books to Chicagoland children who need them most.”

How You Can Help

So what’s next for GreaterGood, now that we’ve donated more than four million masks? Well, we’re happy to report that we won’t stop giving where it’s needed anytime soon. As long as the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for PPE continues, GreaterGood will still be sending masks to frontline heroes and wherever else they can be of use.

PHOTO: GREATERGOOD’S PAWS APLENTY 3-PLY DISPOSABLE FACE MASK

We’ve gone well past the four million mask mark, but with your help, we hope to mask a million more! We will keep on donating for as long as there’s a need.

You can help people on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and help us fund more masks by purchasing masks from our online store, which helps fund even more masks. For every mask purchased, we give one to someone who needs it.

GreaterGood is honored to support the lifesaving efforts of staff members and volunteers at charity organizations across the country. Keep up the great work, everyone!


Want to know more about all the ways we’re supporting causes you care about? Learn more here.


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