EVAN OSGOOD POSES WITH SOME OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MASKS THAT HIS NONPROFIT SOS FOR PPE HAS ASSEMBLED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. (Photo courtesy of Evan Osgood)
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Many people across the United States have had their own struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it be mentally, financially, or physically, each individual has been forced to find a way to deal with their obstacle in a positive way. Although some have found it tough to stay positive, Loveland teenager, Evan Osgood, decided to make it easier on those individuals by creating a non-profit in which they could not only get involved but also feel as though they were making a difference in the world!
Over the past 9 months, Osgood has developed a network of over 4,000 volunteers across the United States who have both made and distributed over 125,000 items of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for those in need. This network of generosity has now been officially named SOS for PPE, a nonprofit organization that sends assembly kits to those wanting to give back by making face masks and shields at home using the assembly kits sent to them. After the individual makes the PPE it is then sent off and distributed to anyone in the country in need of PPE.
Why you may ask did a 16-year-old decide to create and organize a global non-profit during a pandemic? Osgood said that he could no longer bear seeing individuals in hospitals, senior facilities, schools, and out in the community on his very own TV screen struggling to secure proper PPE so he asked himself, “What can I do to help?”
In March, Osgood began making masks out of his own home and sending them to healthcare workers and others in need of PPE. Although Osgood was able to make around 8-10 masks an hour he quickly came to the realization that he would need many more people to help him make masks if he wanted to effectively impact the shortage of PPE. That’s when a lightbulb went off for Osgood! He thought, “If I can make 8-10 masks in an hour imagine how many could get produced if I had more hands-on-deck!” Fast forward to now, Osgood is officially the president of his very own non-profit, SOS for PPE.
Osgood not only oversees the fundraising for SOS for PPE he also manages the supply chain, works with SOS for PPE partners to distribute the PPE, and of course works to grow both his non-profit’s volunteer and partnership networks. Click below to read all about SOS for PPE and how Osgood started his non-profit!
Due to all of the success with SOS for PPE Osgood was honored with the Daily Point of Light Award. This particular honor according to the Points of Light website, “Celebrates the power of individuals who lead and lend support to causes they care about. We recognize their individual stories and lift them up to inspire others so we may each, in our own way, answer the call to make a difference.” In order to qualify for the Daily Point of Light Award the following criteria must be met:
- Residency: Award nominees must be legal U.S. residents.
- Service: All volunteer activities must be unpaid and cannot include court-ordered community service. Nominees who receive a nominal stipend for their service or receive paid time off to volunteer are eligible.
- Timeline: Volunteer service must last for six uninterrupted months and still be ongoing (except disaster relief work).
- Impact: Work should demonstrate real impact from the activity. Examples include the number of people served, money raised, etc.
- Community need: Activity must meet a community need or concern. The nominee must have sustainability plans for their activity (ex. working with community organizations to continue their work, empowering service recipients to continue their work, etc.).
Here at Loveland Magazine, we want to take a moment to congratulate Evan Osgood on receiving this prestigious honor! Creating such a valuable non-profit during times like these and at such a young age is not only impressive but inspirational to those out there wanting to make a difference!
We would like to ask our loyal Loveland Magazine readers to support this fantastic cause by visiting SOS for PPE today and donating some of your time or dollars to making PPE for those who are desperately in need!
Want to read more about Evan Osgood? Click below to read about his time at one of the top Education Conferences!
Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and our Account Executive. She can be contacted about advertising opportunities.
