Unable to find N-95 masks, they located KN-95s, but found they could only be purchased in lots of 1,000. Through calls and emails to family and friends, they were able to raise the funds for 1,000 masks and sent half to the friend’s hospital and the rest to another hospital and a nursing home. Mission accomplished? Not quite.
When a long-time friend in China heard about the project, he offered to send 90,000 surgical masks and 10,000 KN-95 masks to help. When the Van Eatons got the description of items for customs, they found he had added an extra 10,000 masks.
“Our family was making PB&J sandwiches for SoupMobile,” Clay said. “And when we went online that same day, SoupMobile had just announced they were wanting to get 10,000 masks for the Dallas homeless population. It was perfect timing.”
Then, the real work began. Southwest Cargo stepped up to transport the masks to Dallas, a vital link in the chain, and the HPHS DECA chapter also answered the call, picking up the many boxes of masks and helping with distribution. Some went to Parkland Hospital and others to first responders, nursing homes and shelters. Clay taught himself Excel to help with sorting, monitoring inventory and coordinating deliveries with local organizations.
He summed up the extraordinary results, "It's been a lot of work but worth it to help out in a little way. The organizations that are receiving the masks are doing amazing things to help during this difficult time."
Talk about going forth to serve! Thank you to Clay and everyone who has assisted this effort.