Rotary, COVID-19 Community Response Fund Alliance to Purchase 11,000 Masks for Essential Small Businesses and Not-For-Profits

(ENDICOTT, NY) Local essential businesses and not-for-profits will now have access to 11,000 new 3-ply masks thanks to a partnership between several local community organizations,.

The Binghamton Rotary Charities Fund successfully secured $11,000 in combined grant funding to purchase 11,000 masks for Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Delaware, Tompkins, Otsego and Cortland counties. Masks will be allocated to essential, front line small businesses (ideally 50 employees or less) and not-for-profits with a demonstrated need of 3 ply masks for their employees in order to safely conduct operations. A maximum of 50 masks will be supplied per request, with masks being made available at each county’s Office of Emergency Services.

The masks have just arrived at Broome County Michael F. Aswad Emergency Services Special Operations and Training Facility in Endwell. Broome County Emergency Operations Center Logistics Section Chief and Broome Security Director Jim Dadamio has generously offered to help coordinate distribution utilizing New York State Police detail to assist in deploying masks to the various counties.


Contributors to this community service project include Rotary International District 7170, the Binghamton Noon Rotary Club #64, the COVID 19 Community Response Fund and an anonymous donor. The COVID 19 Fund Alliance consists of regional funders including the United Way of Broome County, Klee Foundation, Community Foundation for South Central NY, Decker Foundation, Hoyt Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and the Mee Foundation.

For community members interested in helping fund future rounds of mask allocations, the Binghamton Rotary Charities fund is still accepting monetary donations both by mail to the Binghamton Rotary Charities Fund at PO Box 1330, Binghamton NY 13902-1330 or through their website at www.binghamtonrotary64.com. Contributors are asked to note that their contribution is designated to the Rotary International Frontline Mask Initiative.

"The Rotary Club of Binghamton is proud to work with the our Rotary District 7170, the United Way and other community funders to make this delivery and distribution a success," said Rotary Club of Binghmton President Vikki Collazo.

“The COVID-19 Community Response Fund Alliance was established to help to meet the immediate and long term needs in Broome County that have developed as a result of the coronavirus. We thank the corporations and individuals who have contributed to the Response Fund. Through their generosity, together we were able to assist in the purchase of PPE that is so vital to those working selflessly on the frontlines,” LoriAnne Welch, United Way of Broome County.

“We are thankful to this great contribution to our community,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “This helps fill a great need in Broome County as we get through the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses begin to reopen.”

“We sincerely appreciate the support of the COVID 19 Fund Alliance,” said Tioga County Legislative Chair Martha Sauerbrey. “We’ve had several requests for masks from our local businesses and not-for-profits to help project their employees. These masks are absolutely necessary to help keep our community safe.”

"Thank you to Rotary, our local foundations and the countless other contributors who have made this large purchase of masks possible to help our local small businesses and not-for-profit organizations serve area residents," said Broome County Legislature Chairman Dan Reynolds. "While these are difficult times we're facing, I believe in the resilience of our community and that better times are ahead."

In addition to the various participating community organizations, staff from the office of Senator Fred Akshar coordinated the effort from start to finish.

“We are a strong and resilient community filled with selfless individuals and organizations that truly care for the health and safety of our neighbors.” said Akshar. “My team and I were proud to play a small part in putting this project together and getting more masks to those who need them. Proper protection is a cornerstone of our efforts to reopen and rebuild our economy and the collective livelihoods of our community’s families.”

Mask distribution by county:
Broome - 3,000
Tompkins - 1,000
Otsego - 1,000
Tioga - 1,750
Chenango - 1,750
Cortland - 1,250
Delaware - 1,250