Twin Cities Catholic Charities distributed masks Thursday to people experiencing homelessness as wildfire smoke caused unhealthy air quality across Minnesota.

Catholic Charities distributed nearly 2,000 masks at Higher Ground Shelter and the Mary F. Frey Opportunity Center in Minneapolis and at the Dorothy Day Place campus in St. Paul.

The organization decided Thursday morning to distribute the masks after Elizabeth Heger, vice president of emergency services, saw how poor the air quality had become.

“We went into high gear, I mean, that's our goal,” she said. “Our goal is to always make sure that folks are safe and that they have all the resources they need, especially in times like this when the air quality is really bad.”

Heger said masks will remain available even to people who initially choose not to wear one.

“We are seeing some people use the masks, yes, and then other people will take them just to have them for later, and we encourage that,” she said. “But obviously, if they're not ready to take them, that's fine, but we will have them available for them.”

Heger walked outside the Dorothy Day Place Campus with two bags of masks and handed them to unhoused people. One of those people was Tom Collins, who has been homeless for one month.

Collins said the extreme heat was “vicious.”

“Because if I'm forced to walk around for the whole day, I'm gonna fall over; I'm 61,” Collins said. “How much stamina do I have walking around in 110-degree heat, or whatever it is?”

Collins said he wishes he were not in his current situation, but credited Catholic Charities with saving his life.

“These people have helped me in ways they don't even realize,” he said. “They feed me well; I don't pay for that. Someone does, but not me.”

Vicent Parker came to the Twin Cities six years ago and currently stays at the Union Gospel Mission Shelter in St. Paul. He comes to the Dorothy Day Center to eat breakfast and lunch.

“I'm really grateful that the shelter I'm at, they have showers and bathrooms, and water and sinks,” Parker said. “Cause you don't got to worry too much about where it's coming from, it's already provided.”

Heger said Catholic Charities Twin Cities will continue to distribute masks, while staff will also continue to offer cold water, food and showers.

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.