Face masks - part of this pandemic, “new normal” world. While yes, they can be fashionable and help stop the spread of germs, they can also be hot, muffle voices, and require constant adjusting to stay in place. The alternative to the mandatory face mask is a face shield. A face shield provides protection, is cooler, allows for the entire face to be seen making communication easier, and when purchased from Advance Memphis, your face shield will support a local non-profit.

Advance Memphis is located in South Memphis, and they work to provide economic stability to the hardworking residents living in the 38126 and 38106 zip codes. They accomplish this objective through training and employment of Work Life program graduates each year.

In response to this “new normal,” Advance Memphis, in partnership with C&D Plastics, is expanding job opportunities in addition to providing a necessary product for Memphians. “We are thankful for the opportunity to employ our Work Life program graduates in the production of PPE (personal protective equipment) face shields during this time of emergency authorization of certain needed products,” says Steve Nash, Founder and Executive Director of Advance Memphis.

This is the first venture for Advance Memphis to sell a product they produce. The face shields produced by Advance Memphis have not been FDA cleared or FDA approved, but they have been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization. They can be used by healthcare providers as PPE.

It was through a personal connection with a local dentist that led to this opportunity for Advance Memphis. “Zach Wilkinson, an engineer with C&D Plastics in Collierville made the shield design at the request of some dentist friends, and he passed it to us to source, assemble, and sell,” said Mark Gosney, Director of Operations & Programming for Advance Memphis. “The low availability and high price of face shields was appalling and jeopardized the dentists’ ability to reopen. We scrambled to meet their immediate need for PPE while spinning off the opportunity to Advance Memphis,” Zach explained.

If you own a business and need PPE, or if you want to upgrade to a face shield rather than a mask, Advance Memphis face shields are a wonderful opportunity to support local. Face shields PETG are $4.00 each with a minimum order of 10. For more information, visit products.advancememphis.org or email products@advancememphis.org.