July 20, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

As coronavirus cases continue to rise across the nation, we must all do our part to keep ourselves and other people safe by vigilantly adhering to public health guidance. This means wearing a face mask in public spaces, observing six-feet social distancing, and frequently washing our hands for 20 seconds with soap and water. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of course specifically recommend wearing a face mask in public settings to significantly decreases the spread of COVID-19. You can read about the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of face masks here.

With this public imperative in mind, I’m hosting an 8th District Homemade Mask Contest to encourage all to contribute their creative skills and personal style to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and state. 

The Rules are simple:

1. Take a photo of yourself wearing your homemade mask and submit it to me on social media by tweeting it to me @RepRaskin or tagging @RepRaskin in an Instagram or Facebook post (with your name and city in each post). You can also submit by emailing your entry to me at MD08photos@gmail.com. All entries must be submitted by Monday, July 27.

2. Entrants must reside in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District. View a map here: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/MD/08

3. All masks must be your original work, and must not be available for commercial purchase. Participants may enter a mask created at any time, either during the contest period or previously. Limit one entry per person, please, so pick your best one and share the rest with family and friends.

4. Masks may be of any fabric, but cannot include any company or commercial logos. Eligible entries cannot display inappropriate language or endorse any particular political party or candidate.

After the submission deadline, residents will be able to vote for their favorite mask on my website. The winning entry will be displayed proudly as a featured post on my social media channels for all of Maryland to see!

Please share this email with any family members, friends, or neighbors who may be interested in taking part. If you’d like to participate but aren’t sure where to start, check out these handy tips from the CDC to learn how to make your own mask - sewing skills not required! 

As always, I encourage you to connect with me online by following me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram  and subscribing to my YouTube channel. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing all of your homemade mask submissions!

Stay Healthy and Safe,

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