Rebel Converting is Focused on Providing Materials, Resources, Safety and Fun for the Community to Help Deal with COVID
60 bikes were given to Milwaukee youth. (Picture by Nyesha Stone)
Back in March, Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Gov. Tony Evers stay-at-home order. Since then, businesses have opened back up, people have left their homes and sometimes their mask. Around the country, the cases of COVID has seen an increase, especially in states like Florida, and people are getting worried.
Kids rode their new bikes around prescient 3. (Picture by Nyesha Stone)
In times like these, people like Mike Kryshak are a vital part to moving towards a healthier society. Kryshak is the owner of Rebel Converting—where he converts giant rolls of advanced non-woven fabrics into small rolls that fit inside standard sanitary wipe canisters—and through his social media campaign #MaskUpMKE initiative, he’s worked with hundreds of organizations to make and distribute nearly 3 million masks to over 550 organizations.
Kryshak is pushing for the City of Milwaukee to mandate that residents wear mask in any public setting. Just today, on June 13, 2020, over 80 organizations came together to in support of the “MKE Cares” Ordinance, which will also be voted on today. If passed, residents will be required to wear face masks when out.
Along with the ordinance, Kryshak has committed to providing materials to make 1 million disposable masks.
Along with bikes, mask and informational pamphlets were available too. (Picture by Nyesha Stone)
“We want to make sure that affordability for low-income residents is not a barrier to anyone helping stop the spread of the disease in the community and complying with the requirement,” Kryshak wrote in a letter to the Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett. Covid has disproportionately taken its toll on Milwaukee’s poor and communities of color. This is another area where we see racial and social- economic disparities that must be addressed.”
Just this past weekend, on July 12, 2020, Rebel Converting and Milwaukee Bicycle Collective partnered to giveaway 60 bikes to children, bike locks, helmets, kids face masks and informational pamphlets on how to deal with COVID.
Kryshak and his community partners will continue to do what they can to help out during this time.
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