Bank of America is partnering with local organizations, leveraging an ongoing partnership with United Way of the Coastal Empire, to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), including 32,000 masks, to area residents. In Savannah, which has experienced an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, Bank of America has been working to provide resources to vulnerable and underserved communities hit hardest by the coronavirus.

This donation is part of a nationwide effort by Bank of America to immediately distribute nearly four million PPE masks to communities disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus, including communities of color, and is connected to its $1 billion, four-year commitment of additional support to help local communities address economic and racial inequality accelerated by a global pandemic. This is in addition to the four million masks the company donated earlier this year in cities across the country.

“The health and safety of our employees, clients and communities remain our top priority during this health and humanitarian crisis,” said Patrick O’Neil, Savannah market president for Bank of America. “In addition to providing virus relief grants to three Savannah nonprofits, we are committed to helping slow the spread of the virus by working with local partners to identify and distribute personal protective equipment to those in the most vulnerable populations, including low- to moderate-income communities, communities of color, and frontline workers at schools and health centers.”

Below is more information about where some of the 32,000 masks will be distributed in Savannah.

• America's Second Harvest, The Salvation Army Savannah Corps, Social Apostolate and Union Mission, which provide emergency food and shelter

• Hospice Savannah, Inc., MedBank Foundation, Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, which provide health care and counseling services

• Senior Citizens, Inc. and Savannah Speech & Hearing, which provide services for seniors and people with disabilities

• YMCA of Coastal Georgia, which provides childcare and virtual student learning supports

• Goodwill of Southeast Georgia, which provides workforce development resources

For more information on the bank’s support of employees, clients and communities during this time, see the latest updates here.