WEST DES MOINES — Officials with Hy-Vee Stores announced Tuesday that Hy-Vee will distribute free masks to those entering its stores starting Monday, July 27.

The company said the move was an effort to protest customers and staff from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company will hand out more than 3 million free masks in an effort to help support the CDC’s recommendation to wear masks in public by launching a new initiative called “Mask It Up To Shut COVID Down. It’s Your Choice.”

Starting July 27, employees will be stationed at the front doors of all stores to hand out masks to customers who are not wearing one prior to shopping. Customers will also see signage, employee attire, and other reminders around the store about the educational campaign.

Hy-Vee employees have been wearing masks since nearly the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to officials.

The Midwest grocer was recently named one of the top three supermarkets in America for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis.