Atlanta rapper Ludacris and music producer Mike Will Made-It partnered with a local sewing company to distribute masks to MARTA employees, the transit agency announced Wednesday.
The music artists, whose real names are Chris Bridges and Mike Williams, along with their respective organizations — The Ludacris Foundation and Mike Williams' Making Wishes Matter — worked with Atlanta Sewing Style founder Carla Griffin to distribute 3,000 reusable and washable masks in two weeks.
As of Wednesday afternoon, MARTA had 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death among its employees, according to its online tracker. To help protect workers, the celebrity nonprofits donated money to purchase the supplies to make the masks, which are constructed using pre-approved materials.
“We love our city, and this is an opportunity to show how much we do when it matters most,” Bridges said in a news release. “Before coronavirus happened, we were representing MARTA because it’s a big part of what makes Atlanta special.”
Lakeside Marine Canvas, a sail-making company in Buford, Georgia, volunteered its staff and equipment to cut the mask patterns to speed production.
“On behalf of our hardworking employees, I’m grateful for this show of support,” MARTA CEO Jeffrey Parker said, according to the news release. “Before this health crisis hit, MARTA had been building relationships with metro Atlanta’s entertainment community. Their thoughtful contributions are deeply appreciated. This gives us added confidence that we’ll get through this together.”
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