Felton is very grateful to Operation Mask-Lift, founded by John Wood, for the generous donation of 400 surgical masks for our staff in the senior division who are providing essential services. The three-ply surgical masks were in short supply and necessary as members of Felton’s Senior Division are continuing to work at 100%, maintaining programs and services at 1500 Franklin Street in San Francisco and at the Alameda hub and implementing some telehealth services.

Operation Mask-Lift was created at the end of March with a mission of providing N95 masks and/or surgical masks for those providing essential services who are in need of personal protective equipment (PPE) and to provide moments of optimism in the wake of COVID-19. With masks being in short supply, Felton Senior Division Director Cathy Spensley and her team were ecstatic to receive the masks.

Operation Mask-Lift donates PPE face-masks to Felton Institute

Two staff members, Felton’s Joseph Nolan, Older Adult Intensive Case Manager and Latoya Lopez, Adult Intensive Case Manager are shown in the photo. Dr. Ralph Fenn, a lead psychiatrist at Felton who helped coordinate the mask delivery, thanked Operation Mask-Lift’s John Wood and the donors for their outstanding generosity, and Cathy Spensley noted that she had met John Wood many years ago and marveled that their paths had crossed again in such a meaningful way.

Operation Mask-Lift donates PPE face-masks to Felton Institute

Felton’s Senior Division still has needs for more masks, face shields and other PPE, but this generous gift has been of tremendous assistance as staff continues providing essential services.

The Senior Division is holding virtual town hall meetings via Zoom to discuss logistics, challenges and innovations as the needs of Felton clients become more acute as a result of the impact of COVID-19. Edith Yamanoha, Program Manager for Aging Services has created a resource guide for clients and staff. If you’re interested in receiving a resource guide or for more information about Felton’s Aging Services, you can reach Edith Yamanoha at eyamanoha@felton.org.


About Felton Institute: Founded in 1889, Felton Institute responds to human needs by providing cutting edge, evidence-based mental health and social services that transform lives. Felton Institute is a tax-exempt organization registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-1156530.

Offering more than 50 acclaimed and honored programs that address homelessness, mental health, prenatal, adolescent, adult and senior needs, Felton Institute provides services in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, and Monterey counties.

Felton is named for its social services pioneer and executive director Dr. Katharine “Kitty” Felton who was called the ”conscience of San Francisco” and was committed to ensuring that children and families in crisis have access to social services and resources in order to help them build upon their inherent strengths and develop self-sufficiency. www.felton.org