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Chicago CARN

@chicagocarn

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The Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network provides free and low-cost access to clean air tools, resources, and PPE in Chicago!

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From our Zoom discussion about the @chicagocarn project, Air Support Project vice president Melissa Smallwood discusses the value of working with Windy City Toolbank. The @chicagocarn project brings together PHAN, @airsupportproject , SOS, and Windy City Toolbank to do things no one or even two orgs could pull off.

Listen to a recording of the entire discussion on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/qJP8wDqdsc8, link in bio.

#stillmasking #covid_19 #publichealth by @chicagocarn

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19 days ago

🌬️ Clean air isn’t guaranteed, and nonprofits are stepping up to help fill the gap.💪

A recent CBS Chicago story highlights how the Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network (@chicagocarn) is getting critical air quality resources into the hands of community organizations that need them most.

🔗Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-air-quality-health-nonprofit-chi-carn/

💬 Jessica Pohto, Executive Director of @windycitytoolbank, shared, “It’s getting tools out to keep people safer.” She’s already seeing demand in real time, noting that orders are coming in even before supplies hit the ground.

🏙️ She also pointed to the reality many communities faced during recent wildfire smoke events: people sheltering indoors without the ability to improve air circulation.

💡 With no universal clean air protections in place, partnerships like Chi-CARN are stepping up to provide practical, immediate solutions like air purifiers, masks, and testing supplies to ensure communities aren’t left without support.

🛠️ It’s another example of how the ToolBank network continues to respond to evolving community needs.

#toolbank #toolsforchange #chicago #cleanair #workingtogether #chicarn by @chicagocarn

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23 days ago

BREAKING NEWS: Chi-CARN is in the news!

CBS Chicago recently featured the Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network and the work we’re doing to expand access to clean-air resources across Chicago.

The story looks at a challenge we see firsthand: knowing the air is unsafe is one thing. Having access to the tools to respond is another.

That’s why Chi-CARN is building a shared system that connects community organizations with clean-air resources and the partners, data, and infrastructure needed to put those resources to work.

We’re grateful to @cbschicago and reporter Mikayla Price for highlighting this work and the growing need for accessible clean indoor air.

📰 Read the full story at the link in our bio.

About Chi-CARN
Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network, “Chi-CARN” is a coordinated, multi-partner initiative led by @airsupportproject and co-founded with @publichealthactionnetwork (PHAN), SOS, and @windycitytoolbank - four 501c3 nonprofits who united around the mission of not letting bad air get in the way of good work.

Through a community-driven model, we are expanding access to clean air resources across Chicago by offering free K95/N95 masks, and low-cost borrowing of air purifiers and other clean air equipment available through Windy City ToolBank’s lending program.

Our inventory is expanding and we have events to announce soon! Give us a follow @chicagocarn for more updates!

#IndoorAirQuality #PublicHealth #CommunityResilience #ChicagoNonprofit News announcement graphic for Chi-CARN. Visible text reads: “Breaking News”; “cbs chicago”; “17 September 2026”; “Announcement”; “chi-carn makes the news”; “CBS CHICAGO HIGHLIGHTS THE GROWING NEED FOR CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACCESS”; “A growing network of Chicago nonprofits is working to make clean-air resources more accessible to the organizations and communities that need them. Chi-CARN was recently featured by CBS Chicago for its work building shared access to air purifiers, respirators, air-quality monitors, and other clean-air resources. The story highlights a simple idea: we don't need every organization to build its own clean-air stockpile. We need one they can share.”; and “Read more at tinyurl.com/cbs-chi-carn”. taken in Windy City ToolBank & Midwest Disaster Services Hub by @chicagocarn

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23 days ago

In this clip from our Zoom discussion about @chicagocarn (Chi-CARN) on August 13, Windy City Toolbank executive director Jess Pohto reports that a surprising number of requests are already coming in for air purifiers and masks.

The @chicagocarn, consisting of PHAN, @airsupportproject, @windycitytoolbank, and SOS, is working to obtain and distribute clean-air materials like N95+ masks and air purifiers for mission-driven groups in the Chicago area that need them.

PHAN plays a key role in this new project by obtaining masks and air purifiers from businesses, as well as by providing an innovative supply-chain management application called SUPPLY that lets businesses post items they can donate and lets mission-driven groups claim them, with no effort needed from Chi-CARN.

You can listen to a recording of the entire discussion about Chi-CARN on our YouTube channel, link in bio. COVID isn't over so remember to keep masking, ventilating the air, purifying the air, and moving events outdoors or online.

#covidisntover #stillmasking #publichealth #healthyair by @chicagocarn

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a month ago

10 high-quality air purifiers have been added to Chi-CARN’s lending inventory!

A huge thank you to @smartairfilters and @smarter_hepa for donating 10 SA-600 air purifiers to the Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network.

We are a community lending program focused on creating low-cost access to clean air equipment and resources in Chicago. These air purifiers, as well as our supply of KN95/N95 masks, are available for any nonprofit or mission-driven organization in the Chicagoland area to borrow at low cost. Our goal is to make clean air equipment available for community groups to use, without the cost of buying, storing, and maintaining it themselves.

Whether you are protecting your space from wildfire smoke, making events more accessible by reducing the spread of airborne illness, or just trying to create a healthier space for the people you serve, we want you to have the tools to do this without taking a dent out of your budget.
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Nonprofits and mission-driven organizations can sign up to borrow Chi-CARN’s equipment or request masks through Windy City Toolbank’s lending program. Link in bio.

Windy City Toolbank’s membership is free, does not require 501c3 status, and allows your organization to borrow any item from Toolbank’s inventory.

We are seeking partnerships with equipment vendors and manufacturers to add other types of portable clean air equipment, such as additional purifiers, sensors, particle counters, and PortaCount machines, to Chi-CARN’s inventory. Expanding our inventory will allow us to serve a higher volume of community needs, as well as respond to requests for more specialized inventory.

We are incredibly grateful to our partners SmartAir and WellBefore, whose initial donations have helped launch our lending program to make clean air equipment more accessible to all Chicagoans! 💙

#CleanAir #IndoorAirQuality #ChicagoNonprofit #ClimateResilience MutualAid taken in Windy City ToolBank & Midwest Disaster Services Hub by @chicagocarn

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a month ago

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a month ago

We're looking forward to making our clean air commitment at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Fund's Clean Air Pledge Session on September 8, 2026 - a live, global event in commemoration of the UN #InternationalDayofCleanAir for Blue Skies.

Alongside organizations, governments, and companies from around the world, we'll be publicly announcing our #CleanAir commitment for the coming year. We can't wait to share what we've been working on.

Register for the event: https://uchicago.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AZUZlFbvQTmEtkcuXwDzdw#/registration

Want to make a pledge too? Learn more about how your organization can get involved.

https://aqfund.epic.uchicago.edu/clean-air-pledge/ by @chicagocarn

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Check us out Chicago, we had boots on the ground last night at a music event, thanks to @savethenight and @happygallerychicago We lent one of our new SA 600 air purifiers (courtesy of @smartairfilters !) to Happy Gallery’s Experimental Music Night Event. Our purifiers help clean the air and make the space safer and accessible to more people.

Thank you to artists @evelynfloragray @annehelenwells , @futurenest @BORASISI fyour awesome performances at last night’s event!

Do you want air purifiers, air quality monitors, Far UVC, and FREE KN95/N95 masks at your event? If you are a Chicago-area nonprofit or mission-driven organization, sign up for a free membership @windycitytoolbank and give us a follow @chicagocarn for more updates!

About Chi-CARN
Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network, “Chi-CARN” is a coordinated, multi-partner initiative led by @airsupportproject and co-founded with @publichealthactionnetwork (PHAN), SOS, and @windycitytoolbank - four 501c3 nonprofits who united around the mission of not letting bad air get in the way of good work.

Through a community-driven model, we are expanding access to clean air resources across Chicago by offering free K95/N95 masks, and low-cost borrowing of air purifiers and other clean air equipment available through the Windy City ToolBank’s lending program.

#ChicagoMusic #IndoorAirQuality #ChicagoNonprofit #MissionDriven #ChicagoMusicScene A promotional graphic with a photo and the text: “We attended a COVID-safer event organized by Save The Night productions. This is what happened at Happy Gallery.” taken in Chicago, IL by @chicagocarn

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2 months ago

We have reached 21% of our fundraising goal on givebutter, “Air Out Chicago.” Each donation helps us expand our inventory, cover shipping and logistical costs, and support our coalition as an individual or organization.

It takes one player to change the game.

Beyond money there are other ways you can help us protect more breaths in Chicago. Share our work with your friends and family or other organizations to help expand our reach and help us build connections. Leverage the “tagging” feature in the comments section to tag your favorite mask or air purifier company asking them to donate to our program.

The only way out is through and we are stronger together. All help is welcome, big or small.

Reach out to us to volunteer if you are an individual with time, skills or experience.

Together we can protect more breaths in Chicago.

Organizations and mission-based groups can request free masks or borrow tools by signing up for Windy City ToolBank’s membership (free).

Our network is still seeking in-kind donations of indoor air quality equipment to add to our inventory. Suppliers interested in partnering with us are encouraged to email hello@chicagocarn.org

Thank you for helping us build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Chicago.

About Chi-CARN

Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network, “Chi-CARN” is a coordinated, multi-partner initiative led by @airsupportproject and co-founded with @publichealthactionnetwork (PHAN), SOS, and @windycitytoolbank - four 501c3 nonprofits who united around the mission of not letting bad air get in the way of good work.

Through a community-driven model, we are expanding access to clean air resources across Chicago by offering free K95/N95 masks, and low-cost borrowing of air purifiers and other clean air equipment available through the Windy City ToolBank’s lending program.

#IndoorAirQuality #ChicagoNonprofit #MissionDriven Promotional graphic titled “ways to help” and “build resilience” with the URL “tinyurl.com/AirOutchicago.” It says Air Out Chicago is a fundraiser dedicated to expanding Chi-CARN’s air quality equipment lending program. Your donation helps us stock free K95/N95 masks and add to our inventory of borrowable air purifiers and specialty clean air equipment, putting cleaner air within reach for all of Chicago. It also includes the prompts “follow us on socials,” “TAG others IN THIS POST,” “Donate to our campaign,” and “Share our posts.” tinyurl.com/AirOutChicago
Canva Link here taken in Chicago, IL by @chicagocarn

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2 months ago

Wildfires are a clear sign of global warming, and we are seeing an unprecedented number of blazes globally. Hundreds of millions of hectares have burned worldwide this year alone. Major, ecologically significant wildfire activity has been reported in more than 25 countries in 2026. This includes Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, the UK, Germany, Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, and many more.

“It’s hot, and it’s smoky—how can you protect your lungs outdoors with a mask without overheating?” asks Prof. Maria Gillespie, Founder of @MaskTogetherColorado. She shares a simple way to add a valve to your favorite high-filtration respirator so you can tolerate the heat better: “By adding an exhalation valve! Our fit tester, Mish, tested the solution shown here of installing a Zimi exhalation valve on your favorite mask to help keep cool outdoors in the summer.”

While we need protection from wildfire smoke, firefighters need durable, breathable PPE too. @MaskNerd Aaron Collins’s recommendation for minimum protection is an elastomeric respirator with P100 organic vapor filters.

And don’t forget that respiratory pathogens also spread year-round. When shopping indoors or watching a movie in a theater, switching to a well-fitted respirator without a valve will provide a good layer of protection for you and your community.

Stay safe and stay cool! #MaskTogetherColorado #MaskTogetherAmerica 😷❤️ by @chicagocarn

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2 months ago