Nagasaki group to donate unwanted ‘Abe masks’ to disability facilities

Translated from Kyodo

June 13 2020

NAGASAKI– A group of women in Higashisonogawa-Tanamachi, Kawatana “Wahaha de Mina” (representative Naoko Fujita) has called on people to donate unwanted cloth masks distributed by the government to all households to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection. For up to 30 days, collection boxes will be installed at convenience stores in the town. The collected masks are handed over to the disabled facilities in the town.

The cloth masks distributed to all households are also commonly known as the “Abeno masks” as a vital part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It started to arrive in the town around the end of May. The lack of supply of masks and soaring prices are tending to disappear, and Fujita proposed, “I heard that they would not use it, so I would like to pass it on to the people who need it and use it effectively.”

The collection boxes handmade by the members are installed at five convenience stores in the town, as well as at the town board of education and the Japanese confectionery store “Isamiya” and “BUCO cafe”. Only new, unopened government-distributed masks. The transfer destination is “Nagasaki Jikoen,” which is a facility for people with intellectual disabilities. For inquiries, please contact Fujita representative (DEN 090.8394.6424).