Life Fitness Sells Masks to Benefit Hunger Relief

Life Fitness in Owatonna has found another way to benefit those in need during this pandemic time. The Owatonna-based commercial fitness company is creating and selling reusable, non-surgical face coverings with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to No Kid Hungry. Their mission statement says, "No Kid Hungry, a national campaign focused on ending childhood hunger in America, is providing emergency grants to schools, food banks and community groups to help children in need."

The effort to produce masks by Life Fitness has been ongoing since the need for face masks first surfaced in March. Through company plants in Owatonna and Ramsey, MN, Falmouth, KY, and Hungary, Life Fitness has donated over 10,000 face coverings to healthcare providers. In Owatonna, face mask donations have gone to the Owatonna Healthcare Campus, Traditions Care Center, Timberdale Trace Assisted Living, and CountrySide Care Center.

The new initiative will involve sales of Life Fitness name-branded face coverings through their website with a portion of proceeds going to No Kid Hungry. A news release states, "As fitness facilities begin to open in the community, many are looking to provide face coverings for their staff and exercisers to ensure proper safety measures and align with local directives; Life Fitness hopes to assist these facilities with providing this option."

Orders through the Life Fitness website will result in a $1.00 donation per face covering toward the charity. The program continues through June 18, 2020.

The original effort to sew masks at the Owatonna Life Fitness factory began with Lisa Boyd and Kris Morgan. Plant manager John Champa said at the time, "Healthcare workers on the front lines need our support now more than every, and we kenw we had to do our part. Our employees wanted to help and we are able to use resources in our upholstery department to sew masks that will serve healthcare workers in our community."