Hanes has launched a campaign, #MaskAround, to underscore the importance of wearing a face mask in public, and is donating one million masks to those experiencing homelessness across the country to support it. Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based HanesBrands participates in the promotional products industry as suppliers Hanes/Champion/ComfortWash (PPAI 191138, S10) and Alternative Apparel (PPAI 217134, S5).

According to a survey commissioned by Hanes, 51 percent of Americans wear a face mask all the time when outside their homes, while 71 percent wear a mask to a grocery store or retail location. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that cloth face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 that could reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when used universally within communities. With its #MaskAround campaign, Hanes is supporting the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 by challenging followers to embrace face masks and encourage others to do the same. The TikTok and Instagram campaign features social media personalities who will ask consumers to highlight the unique places—whether they’re catching a movie at a drive-in theater, having a picnic in the park or sitting around the fire pit with friends—they #MaskAround to help keep others safe.

Hanes commissioned a survey by Wakefield Research to understand consumer sentiment and behavior regarding masks. The survey showed that only 50 percent of Americans say they don a mask to eat out, while almost a third (32 percent) plan to wear a mask on a date. Additionally, almost half (45 percent) of respondents have forgotten to take a mask with them and then realized they needed one. When purchasing masks, 27 percent of respondents primarily want comfort in order to wear masks for extended periods. Another 23 percent prioritize features such as fabric weight, washability and breathability in purchasing decisions, while only four percent say style drives their mask choice.

“We want to do our part to support the country’s effort to slow the spread of COVID-19,” says Sidney Falken, chief branding officer at Hanes. “Hanes is proud to be able to offer affordable and comfortable cotton face masks to consumers, and our goal is to raise awareness around the importance of wearing them to help keep each other safe and healthy.”

To ensure that those in need have access to face coverings, Hanes is donating one million face masks nationwide to nonprofits that support people who are experiencing homelessness, including COVID-19 hotspots such as Los Angeles, Miami and Houston. Hanes is leveraging its relationships with nonprofit agencies built through the Hanes National Sock Drive to help the homeless population gain access to masks. Working with long-standing partner Mark Horvath, founder of nonprofit Invisible People, which is dedicated to educating the public about homelessness, the brand is supporting local homeless assistance organizations across all 50 states, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Since 2009, Hanes has donated more than three million pairs of socks, as well as other critical basic apparel including underwear, t-shirts and bras to shelters and support organizations nationwide.