IMPACT Melanoma, a melanoma prevention nonprofit, has partnered with several North Shore communities to form the North Shore Practice Safe Skin Collaboration to provide free sunscreen this summer at more than 70 locations, including parks, playgrounds, beaches, and outdoor work sites through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Sunscreen dispensers will be placed in Salem, Lynn, Nahant, Swampscott, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, and Beverly. IMPACT Melanoma has previously placed automatic sunscreen dispensers at Good Harbor Beach and Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester.
The North Shore Practice Safe Skin Collaboration will consist of the same automatic sunscreen dispensing system present in Gloucester. However, this collaboration will also be building pop-up canopies throughout the eight North Shore cities. These will act as shaded structures with messages regarding safe skin practices.
David Greenbaum, health agent for the City of Salem, said that the structures will be “strategically placed to focus on equity.”
Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King praised the program.
“I think it’s a great idea, it’s a real issue that affects people without them even knowing it,” he said. “There’s a lot of hours we’re spending out in the sun, it affects officers more than you’d think. It can be 8-10 hours a day in the sun.”
Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr., said he was “grateful” the City was included in the collaboration.
“We will have free sunscreen dispensers across many of our parks. This will be great for people who work outdoors as well. The shaded structures are a great addition,” Bettencourt said.
A kick-off event for this collaboration will be held July 21 at 1:00 p.m. at 32 Derby Square in Salem.
Dorothy Irrera can be reached at [email protected].
