Airmen and soldiers from the Connecticut National Guard helped both the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security distribute masks to school districts throughout the state as many students and teachers transition back to in-person or hybrid learning.
Connecticut Guardsmen helped distribute approximately 100,000 masks to local school districts at the West Hartford Department of Public Works garage, which has served as a personal protective equipment distribution site for the state throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 600,000 adult-sized masks for grades 7-12 were distributed between the five DEMHS regions from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. This was the first of two major mask shipments the state is receiving from the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the second shipment will contain child-sized masks.
The guardsmen expressed gratitude in supporting this mission
"I have three kids that are in school now," said Air Force Senior Airman Corey Brennan, 103rd Logistics Readiness Squadron air transportation specialist. "Knowing that they'll be able to learn in a safe environment is important for me as a parent, and helping the state provide that safe environment for students and teachers is very rewarding to me and all the members helping this operation."
Many of the guardsmen supporting the distribution have been constantly engaged in domestic operations responses for over six months. They have helped distribute PPE to nursing homes and played a key role in delivering bottled water to towns without power following Tropical Storm Isaias.
"Going around the state and meeting people from different areas and different departments like Public Health and Emergency Management has been really fulfilling," Brennan said. "There's a sense of teamwork between us and the community; everyone is trying to come together to do the best we can in whatever we're tasked with."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Tucker is assigned to the 103rd Airlift Wing)