Get NZ covered - FACEMASK / DIY FACEMASK KIT's by donation

GRABAMASK.co.nz is a community initiative setup to ‘get NZ covered’. An outreach ministry of St Joseph & St Joachim Church, Otahuhu.

New COVID-19 safety precautions that require people in NZ to wear masks is a good thing but can everyone afford it? The rule can hit the poor hardest and exposes deep inequalities - FACEMASK POVERTY.

With COVID-19 masks prices have become unaffordable for many and some families are left with the decision of "Should I buy a mask or food?"

We have heard some places are charging over $7 per disposable mask. Considering that you can buy a packet of pasta at some places for under $1 a packet.

What would you do if you were a parent trying to support your family? Where would you place masks, hand sanitisers and hand soap?

Pope Francis last week invited us to cure the “virus” of social injustice, inequality of opportunity, marginalization, and the lack of protection for the weakest.

GRABAMASK.co.nz is a platform with the primary purpose for those who need a mask can get access to FREE/LOW-COST mask or DIY Mask Kit's for individuals, families or schools/organisations to enable us to follow the example of Jesus, to live the Christian call and what Catholics calls "Preferential option for the poor" and... for those who can afford a mask to buy one so we can use the income to help those who cannot afford one. By this action we are recognising our closeness to the least, the lost and the last, those who lack the basic necessities in our community: food, shelter and now facemasks.

Pope Francis said, “if the virus were to intensify again in a world that is unjust to the poor and vulnerable, then we must CHANGE THE WORLD!”

In real life how many of you have seen price sky-rocket with mask, materials for mask increase for those that simply cannot afford to buy a box of something (Elastic, Fabric or Mask) REAL LIFE SCENARIO a shop that I went to buy materials from increased the price in one day by over 300%!!! That made me think, I cannot buy into this. I need to do something about this!

It is our mission to be the voice of the voice-less to act now as Pope Francis says: "to heal the epidemics caused by the small, invisible viruses, and to heal those caused by the serious and visible social injustices."

Let's care for the common good by wearing a mask to stop the spread of COVID-19. Let's care for our vulnerable families and communities by ensuring that we cure the invisible virus and CHANGE OUR WORLD.