BALTIMORE — Residents living in Northwest Baltimore received free PPE on Tuesday through NBA star and Baltimore area native Rudy Gay's organization called Flight 22 Foundation.
Gay's organization partnered with Los Angeles based non profit Pull Up Neighbor to pass out face masks and hand sanitizer to community members outside of Mondawmin Mall.
“It's not about the lights, the glitz and the glamour of things, it’s about when there’s a need we just jump in and support," said Yozmin Gay, who is Rudy Gay's sister.
The San Antonio Spurs forward could not make it to the event, but his sister said it was important for him to help in his hometown, where black people have been disproportionately affected by the virus.
They're hoping these supplies can be what residents need to help them stay healthy.
“If you can’t take care of home, you can’t take care of anywhere else," she said.
The need for PPE has been an issue across the country, but it's communities like those living in NW Baltimore who need help the most.
The 21215 zip code where the mall is located has the 10th most coronavirus cases in the state.
“[COVID-19] hasn’t gone no where," said Anthony Holt, founder of Pull Up Neighbor. "It’s going to get worse if we don’t protect ourselves.”
Pull Up Neighbor has been traveling to several states across the country donating PPE.
“When we go to cities people were wearing the same masks for months," he said. [The] disposable masks they were supposed to throw it away that day. They were wearing it for months.”
Carla Mack, who goes to church right down the road from the event near the mall, said she is grateful for the supplies calling them a big help for not only her, but the entire community.
"Being a senior citizen like myself this really makes a difference," she said. "This shows us people do care.”
