Business owners in the cites of Coachella and Palm Desert can pick up free personal protective equipment at separate distribution events slated for next week, it was announced Friday.
The supplies were donated as part of the “Million Mask Giveaway” organized by the nonprofit Coachella Valley Economic Partnership. Upwards of 1.4 million face masks, 40,000 face shields and 96,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, totaling about $1 million worth of supplies, were doled out to local municipalities to help businesses stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Palm Desert’s distribution is scheduled Monday through Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until supplies run out. Supplies will be available at the Palm Desert Community Center, 43900 San Pablo Ave.
Coachella business owners can pick up their supplies at an event scheduled for Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coachella Corporate Yard, 53462 Enterprise Way.
Other cities to announce distribution details include Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, which both opted to partner with each city’s respective chamber of commerce to handle the distribution.
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce has been handing out supplies since Wednesday at the chamber office, 190 W. Amado Road. Business owners can pick up their supplies Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PPE can also be picked up at Crystal Fantasy, 268 N. Palm Canyon Drive.
Rancho Mirage business owners, meanwhile, must wait until Dec. 28, when the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce plans to begin doling out supplies by appointment only from its offices at 71905 Highway 111, Suite H.
Other Coachella Valley cites have not yet announced distribution plans.
The PPE was previously handed out to the Coachella Valley’s nine incorporated cities based on the number and type of businesses in each city. Officials from Twentynine Palms, near Joshua Tree National Park in San Bernardino County, were also invited to pick up supplies, organizers said.
The next phase of the giveaway will focus on providing PPE to health care workers and farm workers, although details on how those donations will be handled were not provided.
Distribution details can be found at cvep.com/millionmaskgiveaway/.