Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford Helps Coordinate Mayors for Masks Initiative With United States Conference of Mayors to Provide Free Protective Face Masks in Camden

In an effort to help local leaders contain the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard their citizens against infection from the virus, the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is coordinating the nationwide Mayors for Masks initiative with mayors across the U.S., and has already delivered thousands of protective face masks to Midlands area municipalities.
 
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, who served as USCM president in 2018-2019, currently serves as National Chair of the Mayors for Masks initiative nationwide, while Camden Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford and Cayce Mayor Elise Partin co-chair the local effort. Partnering with national firm Bella+Canvas, the USCM is donating more than one million non-medical grade masks or cloth facemasks nationwide.
 
“Across the country as well as here in South Carolina, our mayors in many cases are the ones leading the fight against the spread of COVID-19,” said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “Equally, mayors are marshalling the efforts to provide their first responders, public safety officers, health care providers, public service organizations and civilians with resources such as personal protection equipment they need to care for, contain and avoid this virus.”
 
More than 15,000 facemasks have been provided to the Midlands area so far in the initiative, and distribution of the masks has begun to area mayors to provide to first responders, families, children, vulnerable residents or others in their municipalities as a resource to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
 
“The City of Camden leadership is working diligently to ensure our residents are safe and well informed,” said Camden Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford. “The donated masks will be available at Camden City Hall. We are providing these masks to any resident who needs this protective equipment and has not been able to find or afford them.”
 
“Masks and other personal protective equipment are an important part of slowing the spread of COVID-19. That means our citizens stay healthy and our economy can get moving again quicker,” said City of Cayce Mayor Elise Partin. “These masks from Bella Canvas and the USCM are an infusion of supplies. But more is needed. We need every person providing critical services through our city and at grocery stores and restaurants and more to be supported with equipment that helps keep them safe. We know many Midlands residents and businesses are supporting these endeavors already but we encourage more to make sure we all stay healthy.”  

The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Through the Mayors for Masks partnership, Bella+Canvas will be donating over 1 million non-medical grade masks or cloth face covers, with thousands going to mayors across the country.