A local service project aimed at providing food and face masks to people in the community is off and running thanks to the efforts of several Ladue Schools students.
Sophomore Mahith Samarathunga (pictured, second from right) started the STL Mask Project earlier this year with the help of his two younger sisters, Nethmi and Nevinka, both in 7th grade.
The goal of the project is to promote mask-wearing in public, as well as raise money to help food insecurity in the community.
Joined by a handful of classmates from both the high school and middle school, the group sells reusable, cloth face masks online with proceeds going toward Operation Food Search.
The group also organized an online fundraiser, which collected $13,599 to benefit Operation Food Search.
STL Mask Project also donates masks, recently providing $9,000-worth of cloth masks to Saint Louis Public Schools and another large donation of masks to Ladue Schools.
The group currently is collaborating with the St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce for a video campaign, encouraging people to submit a video of themselves dancing while wearing a mask.
You can follow STL Mask Project on Facebook and Instagram @stlmaskprojectbystudents and on Twitter @OFSFOR to learn more about the group and its video campaign.