Mendo Clean Air Club is a group of individuals lending and distributing masks, tests, and other “clean air tools” (air purifiers, information) within Mendocino County, CA, during an ongoing airborne pandemic and climate crisis.

what can we offer our community (you)?

Click the links below or scroll down to learn more.

• FREE masks
• Air purifiers to borrow
• FREE tests for COVID and other viruses
• Information & recommendations regarding COVID and Long COVID
• Community connections

Masks

Have you stopped masking but feel that you might want to start again? 

Reach out to us! 

We can answer your questions, share information and experiences, and/or (the big ticket item!) send you masks. We are not doctors or epidemiologists—just a group of individuals who have been still-COVIDing to varying degrees since 2020. We know firsthand that it is possible to stay safe(r) and protect our loved ones and communities while still living full, rich lives.  

We currently have a variety of masks ready to be distributed, or can provide you with a sample packs of different masks to try out, so you can find the mask that best fits you (and your sense of style!).

Mask tip: Masks can be re-worn for up to 40 hours OR until they get wet, dirty, or become ill-fitting. 

We like to rotate our masks so they have time to air out for a few days before we wear them again. Keeping them in a paper bag will wick the moisture from them!

Are you still masking, but want to upgrade your mask?

We’re your place to go! We have many higher-quality masks available, and would be happy to create a mask “sample pack” so that you can find out which mask size and shape fits best on your face.

Trying a different mask can offer:

More protection

When we refer to a mask, we generally mean a well-fitted respirator. Surgical and cloth masks are not effective in mitigating the spread of current COVID strains or in filtering other airborne viruses or harmful particles from smoke or pollution. The estimated efficacy of surgical masks is only 30%, and people often wear them loosely, which further reduces their effectiveness.

• Surgical and cloth masks are intended to provide a barrier against large droplets (and unpleasant splashes that may occur during surgery!) but do not offer significant protection against the tiny particles of viruses, pollution, or wildfire smoke. 
  
• In contrast, respirators are made up of layers of overlapping fibers arranged to create an electrostatic charge. This means that large and small particles will cling to the fibers and not become airborne again. (Think of a spider trapping a fly in its web!)

Check out this video for a visual explanation of how respirators work.

When properly fitted to your face, respirators are highly effective at trapping tiny particles and keeping you from breathing them in. Masks ending in a 95 (N95, KN95), have a 95 percent efficiency. Masks ending in a 99 have a 99 percent efficiency. Masks ending in 100 (N100, P100) are 99.97 percent efficient. 

The efficiency of the layers in respirators is wonderful, as it then means you only have to focus on how the respirator fits you, and on making sure there are no gaps on the sides or around your nose where dirty (unfiltered) air can get in! 

More comfort / a better fit

Focusing on fit can also enhance your comfort. Issues such as gaps between the mask and your face, foggy glasses, and the need to constantly adjust your mask should not be a necessary part of wearing one. If a mask’s ear loops cause too much painful pressure on your ears or are difficult to navigate with glasses or earrings, you might consider trying a mask with straps that go around the back of your head.

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Please see some examples of different popular respirator shapes below:

Tri-fold

Bi-fold

Masks with replaceable filters

Note: it is true that surgical or cloth masks are better than nothing, especially if they fit well. (A win is a win!) Nevertheless, it is always safer to wear a well-fitted KN95, KF94, or N95 (or better)—especially when organizations like ours are providing them for free!

Are you in need of masks and already know what type you prefer? 

Message us! We have plenty of masks to share around and may already have the type you like (or, if not, we will be able to get it). We know that cost is too often one of the things which stops folks from masking. This is a primary reason we are here, and we would really love to help you access the type of masks you like. 

If you already have your daily type of mask set and stocked, please note that we also have metal-free masks on hand, which are great for MRIs or other one-off situations.

Air Purifiers (and more!)

Are you or your group planning an event? 

Please contact us to discuss enhancing your air quality. Available for any gatherings: community events, music events, meetings, family gatherings, and more. 

We have the following items available to lend:  

• Air purifiers—we have so many sitting around our homes and would love to see them put to use to filter the air at your event or gathering.

• Two far-UV lanterns (Nukit lanterns) and a set of four far-UV lights (Nukit torches), which can deactivate airborne pathogens. For more information, check out It’s Airborne’s Intro to Far-UV  or feel free to ask us. 

We also have the following available for use:  

• Masks (free for small-to-medium sized events)

• Rapid tests or molecular COVID testing (available on a sliding scale based on the size and financial capacity of your event or organization)

Would you like to learn how to build your own air purifier?

We can provide you with all the information needed for this project.

Additionally, we are considering hosting a build day where anyone interested can come together to create DIY air purifiers.

We have a small supply of DIY air purifier materials available for those for whom cost may be an issue. Please reach out—especially if you are an educator or someone else spending significant amounts of time in a public space—to find out more about availability.

COVID tests

Tests for personal use:

We know that rapid tests can be expensive! We always have free COVID rapid tests to give away, and often also have combo tests (for COVID, Flu A/B, and RSV) available. Contact us so that we can get some to you.

Diagnosing COVID-19 and other viruses will help to keep others as safe as possible while you are infectious, and (hopefully!) encourage you to give your body the rest it needs while recovering.

Rapid test accuracy

We recognize that rapid tests can be frustratingly inaccurate. Many folks have to test multiple times across a long span of time, as too often positive results don’t show until many days into an infection, if they show at all.

Please see these instructions on how to enhance the accuracy of your testing:

In English

In Spanish

And / or, some people in our organization have at-home molecular tests that may be able to arrange for you to use. These are far more accurate than rapid tests, and can detect infections far earlier in their course.

Tests for groups and events: 

In addition to providing tests for personal use, we can work to arrange rapid or molecular testing for your event or meeting. This service would be available on a sliding scale based on the size and financial capacity of your event or organization. If there are any proceeds, they will be reinvested into providing clean air tools for our community. 

Information

We recommend visiting our About Us page, where you can find important context regarding our efforts, valuable information about Long COVID, and details about current COVID rates and recommendations.

We have also created a Linktree with relevant links for you to explore.

Of course, you are always welcome to contact us with any questions or to request further information!

Community

Are you still-COVIDing and looking for community? 

We would love to meet you! We want to get to know as many still-COVIDing people in the area as we can. We are actively facilitating online connections as well as organizing in-person, masks-required social meet-ups across Mendocino County and the surrounding areas.

We welcome you to help participate in our mask & test distribution efforts – or just to socialize!

Contact us to learn more!

WHy are we doing this?

visit our about us page to find out!