Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Port of Oakland Tenants, Staff Receive Half a Million Free Face Masks

Two California firms have helped get 500,000 face masks to Port of Oakland staff and tenants.

BELLA+CANVAS, a sustainable clothing company in Montebello, donated the masks, and Oakland trucking firm Impact Transportation offered to deliver them to the port.

“We’re happy to do our part during the pandemic to help the port, which provides the region’s essential everyday products,” said Kenneth W. Duncan, executive director of logistics at BELLA+CANVAS, which last year partnered with federal agencies to create face masks in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, and chose the port as the recipient.

The gestures were welcomed by the port, which for the last 18 months has been moving a record amount of cargo during the pandemic and handling various matters related to the health crisis, including the disembarking and repatriation of cruise ship passengers affected by COVID-19 on the Grand Princess.

“Our staff, tenants and customers have worked heroically to keep the state going despite COVID-19,” port Maritime Director Bryan Brandes said. “We’re grateful that we can thank them with this simple but essential gift.”