Published: 5/20/2020 8:51:02 PM
Modified: 5/20/2020 8:50:52 PM
SOUTHAMPTON — The First Congregational Church kicked off a free mask giveaway earlier this month, distributing nearly 80 face masks on the first of two Saturdays.
Susan Teece, one of the church members behind the giveaway, said that the church intends to continue the giveaway every Saturday going forward from 11 a.m. to noon.
“Or when the masks run out,” she said.
Teece said that the idea for the initiative came during the church’s Sunday worship, during which she said people try to find ways to help the community.
“We Zoom for church every Sunday,” she said.
Quentin Chin, the interim pastor at First Congregational, said that the religious service, which he described as very interactive, involved a discussion of the early church, and how the church could show Southampton that it is there for it. Fellow organizer Josie Alderman said church member Robert Floyd came up with the idea to give away the masks.
“It took off from there,” Alderman said.
In the week leading up to the first giveaway, masks were dropped off at the church, and Teece and Alderman placed them in bags of two to give away. People who wish to donate masks to the effort can drop them off at the church, which is located off College Highway, or they can email churchoffice@shcong.org to arrange a pickup.
Floyd said that The Yellow Quilt Shop has offered to donate to the giveaway every week that it continues, and that he picked up 15 men’s and 15 women’s masks last Saturday.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.