More than 70,000 facial masks were distributed at Mohegan Sun Casino on Tuesday, May 19. It was the largest masks giveaway event yet since Masks for CT started giving facial masks to the public on April 28.

Cars were lining up as early as 2:55 a.m. for the Mohegan Sun Casino mask giveaway event that was supposed to start at 7 a.m. Masks for CT volunteers opened up the gates at 6 a.m. to accommodate the high demand; for seven hours, they  distributed over 70,000 masks to the public.

Alarmed by the rise of COVID-19 cases in Connecticut and the lack of access to personal protective equipment (PPE), the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, in collaboration with Madison residents Bob and Amy Stefanowski, created Masks for Heroes. This special project is delivering needed protective surgical masks to hospitals, nursing homes, physicians and first responders throughout Connecticut. Masks for CT, an arm of Masks for Heroes, is distributing masks for the general public.

More than 200 volunteers, 1,000 donors, and dozens of sponsors and partners have contributed to the success of Masks for CT and Masks for Heroes, which has handed out over one million masks to date. The event in Uncasville was sponsored by Mohegan Sun Casino and Scranton Chevrolet of Norwich, in partnership with WFSB Channel 3 and 94.9 News Now. Among those In attendance were Congressman Joe Courtney, Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom, and James Gessner, COB of the Mohegan Tribe.

Mask giveaway events are also scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 7 a.m.–12:30 p.m… (or as long as supplies last) at Woodstock Fairgrounds (281 CT-169, Woodstock).

To be a corporate sponsor for a Masks for CT distribution event, contact the Jewish Federation’s Chief Development Officer Amy Holtz at aholtz@jewishnewhaven.org. To make a gift online, visit Masks for Heroes at jewishnewhaven.org/masksforheroes or Masks for CT at jewishnewhaven.org/masksforct. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go toward protecting the people of Connecticut.

Main Photo: The Jewish Federation’s Chief Development Officer Amy Holtz and James Gessner, COB of the Mohegan Tribe, at the Masks for CT event.