'Million Mask March': Business Aims To Donate 1M Masks In 90 Days

WHEELING, IL — For nearly three decades, Tim Kelliher and his team at Image Apparel Solutions, the Wheeling-based apparel decoration company, have used innovative techniques to personalize company products and apparel of all kinds. However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and face coverings being mandatory in Illinois and several states, IAS has shifted their focus to masks, aiming to donate 1 million masks over the next 90 days through their Million Mask March donation program. For every mask ordered through IAS, the company will donate a mask to an organization in need of masks in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus and support community organizations.

For Kelliher, the Million Mask March donation program is his chance to pay it forward and make an impact after customers stuck with IAS during another challenging period — when he had a 30 percent chance of surviving stage-four cancer.

"During that time every customer we had stuck with us, rallied with us and worked around me being sick," Kelliher told Patch. "I didn't want to do this mask program unless we could give something back."

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According to Kelliher, each reusable, non-medical mask is $4 and adheres to non-medical guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each mask is machine washable and will last through 40 washes.

"In our business, that's a pretty good number of washes per mask," Kelliher told Patch.

According to IAS, the masks are designed for non-medical situations and are perfect for work or personal use. The outer layer of each mask is made of 100 percent breathable and lightweight polyester fabric, and the inner layer is made of 100 percent unbleached cotton for added filtration and breathable comfort.

Since the program was announced on April 27, Kelliher told Patch an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 masks have been sold, and therefore donated.

To meet the demand and also give back in an impactful way, IAS converted their factory operations from manufacturing custom apparel to custom reusable masks and is matching every order of 250 masks or more with an equivalent donation of masks to a community organization.

After an order is placed, a mock-up of your group's custom mask (logo) is sent over in less than 48 hours. The masks can have multiple logos or one big logo, and the production time for each order is two weeks.

Kelliher told Patch that one of IAS' graphic designers is solely working on mock-ups.

Thanks to IAS, employees can now have masks sporting their company or group's logo or name, while knowing masks are being donated to an organization they selected.

"They can choose from our list of organizations, or choose from one they know needs masks," Kelliher told Patch. "We encourage them to pick an organization in their area, as that keeps it local. We put a notification in the package telling the organization which business (or organization) donated the masks to them."

IAS' list of organizations includes those who provide critical services to their communities, such as food banks, shelters, first responders and other groups and nonprofits serving areas in need.
According to Kelliher, orders have come in from universities, fire departments, businesses and more, who he said have been "all in" with the program.

The first shipment of masks went out Friday, Kelliher said, adding that masks ordered by the Rockford Fire Department are being delivered Wednesday.

Rockford Fire Department Chief Derek Bergsten told Patch he reached out to Tim after seeing information about the Million Mask March program online. Bergsten said the fire department's supply of personal protective equipment hasn't been as steady during the pandemic, though they know the delays that come with obtaining PPE because of this.

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"It's great to support a business owner in Illinois, especially someone making something that we need," Bergsten said, adding that he and Kelliher also connected over the fact that Kelliher's son is a firefighter in San Diego. "The fact that we can double our output by helping out citizens in the community makes it even better."

Within two days, the fire department received proof of their mask design from the graphic designer and placed their order, according to Bergsten.

The Rockford Fire Department is the second-largest fire department in Illinois with 323 members, Bergsten told Patch. They ordered 1,000 masks with their logo on it, and chose to donate 1,000 masks to Rock River Valley Food Pantry.

"They really focus on families with children, especially those families who don't have the resources or access to get masks," Bergsten said of the food pantry.

Bergsten added that ordering masks from IAS was more worthwhile than ordering from other vendors due to what they're giving back to the community.

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Patch asked Kelliher whether IAS will continue to make masks after the program's 90 days are up, to which he responded, "As long as there's a demand for them, we want to keep it going. We will continue to do it as a donation program."

For questions, more information, or to discuss an order, email francie@image-apparel-solutions.com or call the IAS team at 847-229-2000.

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