Church Distributes Free Face Masks in Slovakia

When the Slovak government required people to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) and masks to slow the spread of the virus, Latter-day Saint Charities and local community organizations partnered to provide the needed supplies. The effort focused on the protection of healthcare workers, social workers, and staff at residential care facilities who did not have the resources for PPE.

Sewing machines were purchased for use at community centers where staff members made face masks from locally donated materials. Over a short period of time, 2500 masks were created and distributed to hospitals, care centers, and other organizations in 13 separate communities.

Shields, face masks, gloves, thermometers, and cleaning solutions were also provided to nine care centers. One center in Horňa where the supplies were dropped off wrote, “Your help came as a great gift from heaven. [The employees] thank you . . . and do not shy away from tears. They send you [appreciation] from the bottom of [their] heart.”

Maria Andričíková, a leader at one of the partnering charities, also expressed her appreciation and said, “I thank God that on my journey of life He allowed me to get to know your church through your humanitarian missionaries and thus change my life and the life of my family.”

SOURCE: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints