Mask Freedom Solutions

Hello! My name is Brandon Madrid, I am a 28 year old that works at Whole Foods Market in Nashville. I started my little operation by washing and handing out reusable masks I receive at work to homeless people. The purpose behind my solution is multi-faceted. I am trying to get underprivileged homeless people access to antibacterial, washable, reusable masks from HMNKIND if I were to receive funding for this project. The reason I feel like it is important to do this is because wearing masks is A. not good for your body (circulatory system, respiratory system, dental health) B. Single use plastics are extremely harmful to the environment and C. Even single use plastic masks are expensive! I feel like a more sustainable and available option should be available to everyone that should/would like to do so!

The problem that I am solving is not only environmental but also health conscious. I am attempting to create a healthier, more sustainable option for people that don't have the accessibility for themselves.

My solution is to provide people in tough financial situations a product which is needed in todays day and age in a cost effective manner. I would like to bring people in less stable situations the ability to wear masks that are from an environmentally friendly company which are washable, reusable, and recyclable. The unfortunate truth is that single use plastic masks are creating more of a problem than a solution to our environment as a whole. It has always struck me as a bit ironic that sometimes the things that we need in order to help ourselves end up hurting us at the same time in the long run. I would like to provide a solution to this challenge.

My solution serves homeless people as well as our global environment. Less mask waste = less pollution to our environment. More accessibility to antibacterial, washable, reusable masks = happier, healthier destitute people in the long term scope of things.

I believe that the problem I am addressing, as aforementioned; is multi faceted and serves a multitude of purposes. It is educational to the homeless population about the long term risks of wearing the wrong types of masks which has yet to be scientifically documented & targets the environmental pollution from single use plastic masks. I feel like this project serves the greater good aspect of humanity. 

I do not yet have the funding to acquire anti bacterial masks quite yet. My project started off as a deed of good will to spread the availability of reusable masks that could be easily washed that I acquire from work at Whole Foods. I don't have the funding to acquire a lot of antibacterial masks currently, but everyone I have pitched my idea to has been happy to contribute however they can. I would like to see this idea evolve into a charity or orgaization that ends up helping out millions of people on an international scale if possible.

I believe my solution is innovative due to the fact that I see this issue as something that has not been formally addressed. It's forward thinking in the regard that the possibility of people that are less fortunate are receiving a recyclable, reusable & antibacterial mask might inspire the people that do have money to buy masks like these of their own. The company that I am trying to support in all this, alongside this project, donates 10% of their sales to other humanitarian causes as well. All in all, I believe this project could cause a ripple effect that could possibly inspire millions upon millions of people.

My solution currently serves less than 100 people. I would like to make as many rounds as possible or further serve this purpose/passion/project but I do not have the resources or time currently.

The only measurement of progress I have so far is personal accountability.

Me, my mom & my step dad.

I have sales experience as well as customer service, I have also run a small business of my own before. My mom is a salesperson with a lifetime of experience in customer service and just a great person overall. My step dad is vice president of a book publishing company with a lot of connections amongst people in churches and Nashville. I feel like if we got churches or other charities/ non profit organizayions involved it would be really helpful.

We are all completely unbiased and all inclusive to anybody willing to work on the project.

I am applying to Solve for a few reasons. The first and foremost reason is to provide people with less means access to something that will bring down health risks to less fortunate people. The second reason I am applying to Solve is to attempt and take a small dent away from the environmental impact of single use plastic masks. The third reason I am applying to Solve is I don't think the pandemic is over and there is a fair chance that we may go back to square one since they removed the mandate even though less than half of Americans are vaccinated. I don't have statistics for it but something tells me that homeless people are not lining up to get COVID vaccinations. The final reason I am applying to Solve is because I am a good person that genuinely cares about people and wants to make a positive on as many peoples lives as possible however possible.

This started off as a passion project and is still a baby in itself. I have some people that think it is a cool idea and have tossed me some masks but besides that nobody has really volunteered or been motivated to help beyond that.

Any and everybody willing to help I would be grateful for.

I think that this is a very viable solution for the Health Security & Pandemics challenge due to the fact it covers all the bases for a good and viable possibility as a nonprofit/charity.