Mary Kay donates hand sanitizer to support the COVID-19 relief effort in the American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
As the world continues to battle COVID-19, Mary Kay expanded its support of organizations focused on populations disproportionately affected by the virus. According to an August 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incidence of COVID-19 cases among American Indians and Alaska Natives was 3.5 times that among non-Hispanic white persons.
In support of these vulnerable communities, Mary Kay donated nearly 75,000 units of hand sanitizer to Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the federal health program for approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.
The company also supplied hand sanitizer to Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC), a hospital on the border of the Navajo Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico, to support efforts to create home hygiene care kits and promote health through educational materials – both in English and Navajo.
“The Indian Health Service, along with our tribal and urban Indian organization partners, are delivering crucial services under extraordinary circumstances,” said IHS Director Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee. “Hand sanitizer is an important resource for stopping the spread of COVID-19. We are grateful for this donation and for all the donations that we are receiving from different sources. They make a real difference in our ability to better serve our communities and fulfill the IHS mission of raising the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives during this pandemic.”
As a global COVID-19 response partner, it’s our responsibility to help where we can amid this unparalleled health crisis. We will continue to stand united in our efforts to combat the pandemic and support frontline responders in our most fragile communities.
Mary Kay donates thousands of units of hand sanitizer targeting disproportionately affected communities.