Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
We provide masks, tests, and information free of charge within so-called Waterloo Region.
get free masks and tests
We have free, high-quality N95 masks and COVID-19 rapid tests for pickup or delivery. Just fill out our form, and one of our volunteers will contact you as soon as possible!
Our usual stock includes:
- Adult masks in sizes S, M, and L, as well as child-sized masks (mostly head-strap models, some ear-loops)
- COVID rapid tests (expiring December 2026)If you would like a specific kind of mask, please let us know and we will check our stock for you.
You can also pick up masks at any of our public pickup locations.
Thank you to our partners for sharing space with us! If your business or group would like to become a pickup location, please email us.
(Click below to reveal email)
We can also recycle your used masks! Put them in a sealed zip-lock bag and we can collect it during your next pick-up or drop-off.
resources and information
Below you will find resources and information about the ongoing COVID pandemic and more!
MBWR Guides
Mask Cycling
The first time we posted this guide on Instagram, we stated that masks can be worn for up to 40 hours with proper care. Many folks in the covid-conscious community often give this advice, though it may not be as accurate as we initially thought.More recent data shows that 8 hours of wear is a safer number to use when making general recommendations.Many factors contribute to the efficacy of a mask over time, including how many times it’s been put on and taken off, how it was stored between uses, how long its been since it was last worn, and the environment it was worn in.Access & affordability: A harm reduction approach
For many of us, 8 hours is approximately one shift at work. It may not be sustainable for you to wear a new mask every single day due to cost, access, or other factors.If you have access to more masks and you can limit their wear time and retire used masks more frequently, you should do so!If you do need to wear your masks for more than 8 hours:
- It is best to use a new mask for higher-risk situations like healthcare appointments and crowded areas.
- Try to limit wearing your masks that have more wear time to lower-risk situations like quick errands.Here are some important things to consider when deciding to re-wear a mask.
Always make sure your mask still fits tightly and seals properly.Check out the guidelines from your mask’s manufacturer. Many companies provide information about how long their masks can safely be worn.Avoid re-wearing a mask that’s damaged or visibly soiled, including:
- Nose piece no longer holds its shape
- Mask is dirty, discoloured, creased or folded (in a way that it’s not designed to fold)If your mask got wet, don’t re-use it – moisture can make the mask ineffective.How should I store my masks in between uses?
Leave your masks somewhere out of the way. Don’t try to wash or disinfect your disposable mask – just put it somewhere safe and wait 24 to 72 hours.You can place your mask in a paper bag or hang it on a hook!How will I remember when I wore each mask?
If you can, make note of the date you last wore the mask, and a tally of the number of hours its been worn so far.Try using sticky notes, a whiteboard, or the notes app on your phone!Is there anything else I should know?
Don’t throw out your used masks – keep them in a sealed plastic bag and return them to us for recycling!
Pets & COVID
If you have COVID, you can take steps to protect your pets including wearing a respirator when caring for them or having another member of the household care of them; avoiding close contact such as licks, snuggles, sharing food; avoiding sleeping in the same room; keeping your space well ventilated; washing your hands before and after interactions; and avoiding coughing and sneezing near them[1]. If your pet visits long-term care homes, it's especially important to take precautions.People who become infected with COVID often pass it on to their pets. Dogs and cats from households where people had COVID often develop symptoms such as loss of energy and appetite, coughing, diarrhea, runny nose and respiratory problems[2].A study from a university in South Korea found that COVID causes brain-blood barrier damage in dogs. It also found that COVID infection in dogs and cats affects their lungs and leads to pathologic changes[3].Cats are particularly at risk and tend to become infected at higher rates than dogs. Cat-to-cat transmission of COVID also happens, and a 2023 NIH study characterized it as "efficient"[4].A 2023 meta-analysis found that living with COVID positive humans may be a risk factor for pets to become infected with COVID, with over 10% of pets cohabiting with an infected human testing positive[5].A 2023 German study found that animals from known COVID-positive households had a high prevalence of seropositive cats (41.7%) and a very high prevalence for seropositive dogs (55.9%). The study also found that pets living in a household with symptomatic infected humans might be at a higher risk of becoming infected[6]. Other household transmission studies put seroprevalence at 40% of dogs and 43% of cats[7] or at a range of ranging from 21% to 53% for both pets[8].Several studies have found that contact reduction with pets and infected humans acts as a preventive measure and that increased interaction between the animal and the owner was linked to an increase in the likelihood of the animal becoming infected[6, 7].References:
1. COVID-19 and animals
2. People with COVID Often Infect Their Pets
3. COVID infection can damage the brains of dogs, study suggests
4. Efficient Direct and Limited Environmental Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.22 in Domestic Cats
5. When COVID-19 sits on people's laps: A systematic review of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence in household dogs and cats
6. SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Clinical Signs in Cats and Dogs from Confirmed Positive Households in Germany
7. Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Humans to Pets, Washington and Idaho, USA
8. High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets from COVID-19+ households
Upcoming Events
This is a list of upcoming covid-cautious/masked events within the region. We are not necessarily associated with any event listed. Please let us know if you want your event added or removed!
| Date | Event | Location | Masking |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 11 | Bolo Tie Line: Mother Truckers (Beginner-Focused Queer Line Dancing) | Uptown Waterloo, event info | Mandatory indoors |
| July 12 | Earthshakers Creativity Club | Downtown Kitchener, event info | Mandatory in space |
| July 25 | Food Not Bombs: Masked Cook | Downtown Kitchener, org info | Mandatory indoors |
| July 27 | Earthshakers Creativity Club | Online, event info | Online event |
Donate To Us
We are a small, volunteer-run mutual aid group spending our own time and money to provide free masks and tests to our community.Financial donations help us fill gaps in our supply donations. We usually buy rapid tests or high-demand types of masks.
Please note that we aren't a registered charity, so we can't provide tax receipts.
donate supplies
Thanks for your donation of unused masks or tests! Please contact us directly to arrange a pick-up or drop-off of supplies.Contact us via email (preferred)
(Click below to reveal email)
about us
We are a small, volunteer-run mutual aid group spending our own time and money to provide free masks and tests to our community.Here's how our values impact our work:• We don’t buy masks made by weapons manufacturers or companies associated with the military.
We will redistribute any masks that are donated to us, including masks from these manufacturers, but we will not give them money.• When we do buy masks, we buy the Dent-x brand because it is a certified Indigenous-owned business.• We have not and will never use AI for anything related to our Mask Bloc work.
We will not use generative AI for research, assets, or anything else. generative AI steals from creatives, many of whom are disabled and rely on their art for income. AI data centres also contribute to environmental racism as they are commonly built near poor Black neighbourhoods. These data centres poison the air that we breathe and use clean drinking water to cool their servers. We will not knowingly contribute to this.• We buy used air purifiers instead of buying new products.
We do not want to financially support the electronics industry that is built off of the labour of enslaved children and adults.• We use donated or thrifted baskets and carts at our pickup locations.• We have a mask recycling program
You can return used masks for us to have them recycled!
E-transfer:
(Click to reveal email)
financial transparency
More information to come! Please reach out if you have any questions in the meantime.
Volunteer With Us
We respect each person's individual pace and celebrate every contribution. Everyone is welcome to work with us within their own capacity, skills, and interests!
We're also happy to collaborate with other groups and campaigns to improve accessibility and quality of life in our area. Please reach out to us if you want to work together!