Some non-profits in Brandon are interested in helping distribute KN95 masks and other personal protective equipment to the public to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
There are more options available through non-profits and community organizations to help in the distribution of PPE outside of just liquor stores and casinos in the province, said Ross Robinson, the executive director of the John Howard Society of Brandon. He was shocked when the government opted to rely on the latter facilities for its initial mask distribution efforts.
“We’ve got vaccination sites, we’ve got sites for testing, we’ve got lots of places [through which] I believe masks could be better distributed,” Robinson said. “Those are areas that people are going to with regards to COVID-19 issues, and [distributing] them through places that potentially trigger addictions or worse is fundamentally wrong.”
“It should be put in the hands of people who need it, without stigma, without any difficulty or challenges and certainly without any requirement to provide ID,” Robinson said. He noted several people who access the services at the society do not always have ID readily available.
Having access to government-provided PPE, such as KN95 masks — which health officials have said offer better protection from the virus than cloth masks — at non-profits like John Howard Society would not only ensure easy access for those in need, he said, but would also serve to connect clients with other tools and resources that lend multi-faceted support.
Ask Auntie Brandon co-ordinator Florence Halcrow said it would be beneficial to explore different avenues of mask distribution in the province
By mail could be an effective step, she said, but there would be a benefit providing access through non-profits like Ask Auntie, the Brandon Friendship Centre, the Safe and Warm Shelter, because these organizations provide wraparound services.
“They should be sent to the organizations that are helping the people that they are trying to aim for. Make them accessible to the organizations that are helping,” Halcrow said. “Have it easily accessible to them to get them, so they can get them to the people that are coming into their spaces.”
The Blue Door Project sees anywhere from 35 to 50 people come through each day, along with people accessing the Brandon Food Council food rescue grocery store in the same space.
“We have all kinds of people coming through there Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. I think that would be one of the good places to leave masks because a lot of people access that store and the blue door,” Halcrow said.
The Blue Door was given around 1,000 medical face masks about a month ago and has roughly 70 left, she said. They are doing their best to secure more.
“I think organizations that serve individuals naturally would be one of the best places to capture most of the people they are missing,” Halcrow said.
Kim Iwasiuk, the director of counselling and advocacy of the Brandon Women’s Resource Centre, said when speaking with co-workers there were concerns about seeing KN95 masks being distributed through liquor stores because lots of people do not feel safe or comfortable entering those establishments.
“For some people there could be concerns around addiction and having to show identification as well, if they are going in,” Iwasiuk said.
She added another layer is the ongoing talk of positive mental health and dealing with addiction during the pandemic.
“We’re really leaving a lot of people out of the ability to obtain a mask that could be really important for them,” Iwasiuk said. “Those of us that work in this field are happy to help out in any way we can — I would be very grateful to get some KN95s.”
Selecting a space like a liquor store for the distribution of PPE can create barriers to access, she added. The key to solving these challenges is to create more options for people looking to access PPE.
The Women’s Resource Centre has been working throughout the pandemic to stay connected with clients and would be happy to hand out KN95 masks or any other PPE, Iwasiuk said.
“We really feel that we are such a safe space for folks in our community, with no judgement [and] always willing to help. People know they can stop by and ask us for things openly.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, the non-profit received medical masks from Maple Leaf and the Red Cross and were trained in the proper use of PPE. These items are still in use and available.
“It’s really important to give [people] any kind of assistance to keep them safe for their health,” Iwasiuk said.
A provincial spokesperson said as a Crown corporation, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries works directly with the province, and distribution efforts through MBLL have allowed the province to get masks to Manitobans more effectively and promptly. At this time, Manitoba has fully distributed all available stock of KN95 masks.
» Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
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