All county residents can join the effort to control the spread of COVID-19 by being part of Cover Greene County, an initiative of the county board of health. The goal of Cover Greene County is to be sure every resident has a face mask to wear in public.
Annie Smith, a board of health member, said the board has received many updates with recommendations to wear face masks in public. “Our local public health department works to provide resources. We wondered if the lack of face masks we’re seeing is because of a lack of resources,” she said .”The community has helped make sure essential workers have masks, but the general public doesn’t have them. We want to change that.”
The board of health is asking for donations of completed masks in all sizes, donations of fabric and supplies, cash donations to purchase supplies, and help sharing information about the initiative.
Masks, fabric, supplies and monetary donations can be dropped off at the public health department. Use the clinics (west) entrance at Greene County Medical Center and specify the items are for public health.
Sewers who are willing to make masks from the donated fabric can contact Smith at 515-314-2773 or smitann23@gmail.com. The board of health has not specified a particular pattern or style for the masks.
Distribution locations and times will be set once a sufficient number of masks is gathered. Drive-through, contact-free pickups will be planned.
Smith said that as of Friday, 200 masks had been donated for Cover Greene County.
