Sen. Sal DiDomenico announced that Chelsea-based company Steele Canvas made a donation of 1,200 masks to the City of Everett. Senator Sal DiDomenico’s office began working with Steele Canvas at the start of the COVID-19 emergency, when the company contacted his team for assistance with converting their existing manufacturing operations to make essential products, like personal protective equipment (PPE).
After DiDomenico’s office connected the local company with the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center, Steele Canvas was able to begin converting their operations, creating high-quality masks made of domestic denim and a 100% flannel lining. As part of their new business, they also began donating a mask for every mask they sold. In the weeks since they launched their mask manufacturing operations, Steele Canvas has donated over 30,000 masks to health care workers, non-medical hospital staff, and first responders.
Most recently, the company contacted the Senator’s office again asking for assistance in identifying community organizations in need of mask donations and municipalities that have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, DiDomenico worked to connect them to the City of Everett, Everett Police and Fire Departments, and the Everett Grace Food Pantry, resulting in a donation of over 1,200 masks to the Everett community.
“I am incredibly grateful to Steele Canvas for their generosity, and truly proud of their innovation, resilience, and spirit during these difficult times,” said Senator DiDomenico. “From the start of this emergency, my office and I have been working diligently to connect local companies with the resources they need, and this is just one example of a company in my district that has adapted its operations to making PPE. I have found this collaboration with Steele Canvas to be particularly heartwarming, seeing our initial conversation with them just a six short weeks ago blossom into an incredible act of kindness and critical donation to our community. Thank you to Steele Canvas for providing our city, especially those on the front-lines, with the masks we so desperately need.”
“Over the last six weeks, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support of our customers and community,” said John Lordan, President of Steele Canvas. “The success of our mask initiative has been a humbling journey. We had no idea what to expect when we started this project. We simply knew we wanted to help front line workers while keeping our staff employed. To date, we’ve been able to donate over 30,000 masks to healthcare workers and hard hit communities, and not only keep our entire team employed, but actually add a few jobs as well.”
“Time and time again I have seen the generosity of individuals and companies during the Coronavirus,” said Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “Steele Canvas demonstrates how you can do well, by doing good. Not only are they saving much needed jobs, but they are doing it while saving lives. I want to personally thank our senator for reaching out and connecting Steele Canvas with our first responders.”
In addition to the donation to the City of Everett, Steele Canvas has also donated over 1,200 masks to the city of Chelsea and the Chelsea Collaborative, as facilitated by Senator DiDomenico’s office.
Steele Canvas is a 99 year-old family owned and operated manufacturer of high-quality baskets, bins, hampers, totes and other products. Their Keep America Moving Mask is available for purchase, or donation to a front-line worker, on their website: www.steelecanvas.com.