Masking Where It Matters

To meet our region’s need for face shields and face masks Ecolibrium3, in partnership with Frost River Trading Company, launched the Pay It Forward PPE Project: a month-long, volunteer-run assembly event to make personal protective equipment. 

The outcome of this event is more than just the equipment created. Profits from the sale of PPEs are reinvested in the Duluth community in two ways:

  • First, each order assists in purchasing reusable masks for our community’s most vulnerable populations, distributing this protection to elderly residents, low-income families, and communities of color. 
  • Second, every purchase also pays forward a donation to a local nonprofit that serves these vulnerable populations, helping them continue to employ their staff and serve our neighbors in need. 

The Lincoln Park neighborhood, a historically disadvantaged community in Duluth, is especially vulnerable to COVID-19 due to health disparities. We thank the volunteers from Harbor City International School for donating the profits from their assembly session to the Duluth NAACP who have been specifically providing masks and other supplies to Black, Indigenous, and people of color in Duluth. 

We want to make sure even more  PPE equipment reaches communities that need the protection most. For that reason we have created a series of discount codes to help people purchasing equipment for our neighboring communities and traditionally marginalized populations. Here is a list of the discount codes you can use on our site:

  • If you are purchasing for use in the Minnesota Counties of St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton, Pine, Kanabec, or Mille Lacs, or the Wisconsin Counties of Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, you can receive 50% off your face shield order by using the discount code NorthlandProud ($2.25/shield).*
  • If you are purchasing for use in the remainder of Minnesota, you can receive 25% off your face shield order by using the discount code MinnesotaNice ($3.38/shield).*
  • If you are purchasing to serve traditionally marginalized populations, you can receive 25% off your face shield order by using the discount code HealthEquityNow ($3.38/shield).*

*Appropriate use of discount codes will be verified prior to shipping.

To volunteer in making PPE, to purchase PPE, or to share the program with someone who will benefit, go to the Pay It Forward PPE website.