Matthew 25: Ministries and P&G Provide PPE, Personal Care and Hygiene Supplies for COVID-19 Event

MAY 5, 2020  Cincinnati, OH – Philanthropist, entrepreneur and fashion designer Tina Knowles Lawson has created the initiative #IDIDMYPART to encourage residents in her beloved home city of Houston to get tested as a means of prevention and early detection during the COVID-19 pandemic. African American communities have an escalated rate of infections and fatalities, and Ms. Knowles Lawson is encouraging Houston residents to know their status as part of an urgent appeal to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Ms. Knowles Lawson reached out to friend Tim Mettey, the CEO of Matthew 25: Ministries, to provide masks, vitamins, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and other basic supplies. Multinational consumer goods corporation Procter & Gamble has agreed to provide kits that include Always, Crest, Gillette, Pantene, Secret and much more. Minority-owned carrier TWC Logistics has also teamed up with BeyGOOD and is providing logistics and transportation for the events in Houston and other cities.

“We are all in this together. But we have to look at what is happening in our Black and Brown communities and how they are being decimated by COVID-19,” said Knowles Lawson. “It is critical that we stay vigilant with social distancing, wearing a mask, and most of all getting tested. If you don’t get tested then you don’t know if you are a carrier of the virus. Being asymptomatic is how you infect your entire household and those around you, the very people you love. We have got to go to these free testing facilities and find out our status.”

Sponsored by BeyGOOD, the philanthropic initiative founded by her daughter, Beyoncé, the #IDIDMYPART Mobile Testing Relief Campaign takes place this Mother’s Day weekend in Houston at the following locations:

Friday, May 8, 2020 10:00 AM CST – 5:00 PM CST
Cullen Middle School 6900 Scott Street, Houston, Texas 77021

Saturday, May 9, 2020 10:00 AM CST – 5:00 PM CST
Forest Brook Middle School 7525 Tidwell, Houston, Texas 77016

The two day event will provide 1,000 test kits, as well as face masks, gloves, essential vitamins and household supplies to citizens of Houston. The test is free and administered under safe conditions since participants will never have to exit their vehicles. Participants receiving a test will also receive a grocery gift card from BeyGOOD for H-E-B Grocery Company. Additionally, H-E-B will match BeyGOOD’s contribution. Participants will also receive written materials with information on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. In observance of social distancing measures, supplies will be placed in vehicle trunks as participants exit the testing sites. A voucher for a hot meal at two favorite local restaurants, also compliments of BeyGOOD, will be provided to participants and the medical staff administering the tests.

Actor/director/producer/philanthropist Tyler Perry, has accepted Knowles Lawson’s challenge to do the same and will set up his own #IDIDMYPART campaign in Atlanta, Georgia. He will then challenge another celebrity to continue the movement in their city.

As of May 1, Matthew 25: Ministries has distributed more than 890,000 pounds of COVID-19 emergency supplies to approximately 600 organizations—including hospitals, fire departments, police departments, nursing homes, schools, healthcare facilities, and more. These items help support their partners’ tireless efforts as they care for high-risk populations including the sick, the elderly, the impoverished, and others in need.

For the most current information on Matthew 25: Ministries’ distribution activities, please visit m25m.org/disaster/covid19updates or follow Matthew 25 on social media. For more in-depth information about Matthew 25: Ministries’ humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts or to schedule an interview, please contact Joodi Archer joodi@m25m.org.

ABOUT MATTHEW 25: MINISTRIES: Matthew 25: Ministries rescues and reuses approximately 13,000,000 pounds of products each year and redistributes them to people in desperate need throughout the US and worldwide. Each year, Matthew 25: Ministries impacts the lives of more than 18,000,000 individuals throughout the United States and around the world. Matthew 25 is ranked on Forbes’ list of America’s Top Charities. Matthew 25 is also highly ranked among approximately 3,500 four-star charities on Charity Navigator. Matthew 25: Ministries is accredited by the Better Business Bureau through the “Wise Giving Alliance Standards”. For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Joodi Archer at Matthew 25: Ministries joodi@m25m.org or visit www.m25m.org.

ABOUT P&G’S DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM: For more information, please visit us.pg.com/community-impact.

ABOUT BeyGOOD:  You can find out more information about the BeyGOOD Foundation at their website www.beyonce.com/beygood.

ABOUT TINA KNOWLES LAWSON:  You can find out more information about Tina Knowles Lawson on Instagram www.instagram.com/mstinalawson.