American Lung Association launches mask campaign

Like most nonprofits, the American Lung Association is being hit hard by the pandemic seeing fewer donations. But at the same time, the group’s work has never been more important, and the ALA has launched a $25 million COVID-19 Action initiative.

"It takes the dollars from the community to do the work that we do and when the community is struggling those dollars tend to not come in in the same way," said Missi Arens, the executive director of the American Lung Association in Minnesota.

Despite the slowdown in donations, the ALA is committing millions to research COVID-19 and to defend against future respiratory virus pandemics.

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"We, like many organizations, are investing in these research projects because we know it will change the face of COVID-19 and the future of the pandemic," Arens said.

And starting Wednesday, the group is also launching a "Buy Two, Give Two" campaign to encourage people to wear face masks. If you buy two masks for $29, the American Lung Association will donate two masks to those in need.

"And those masks are donated to individuals in senior living cites, communities of color. They are donated to people who otherwise might not have a mask," Arens said.

To stretch the funding it does have, most of the American Lung Association’s COVID resources are virtual and available on its website. People can order the masks on the website or by calling 800-586-4872 starting Wednesday.

Arens said delivering science-based education about the virus is the group’s top priority.

"And it’s a way perhaps for us to get ahead of all of this," she said.