GREENE COUNTY — The Greene County Public Health is asking for donations of hand-sewn masks for students, administrators and community members who are heading back to school soon.
“We have been seeing our numbers go up,” said Greene County Public Health Commissioner Melissa Howell. “We want to make sure masks are available for everyone.”
Masks are strongly recommended for students by the health department and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
The Greene County Public Health has been receiving feedback from concerned parents, Howell said.
“They won’t send their kids to school if they don’t have masks,” said Howell. “So, we want to make sure everybody has that reassurance.”
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Some parents don’t have the time and means to provide masks for their kids, said Howell.
“Our mask supplies that we do keep went out to first responders, nursing homes and we’re running low, too,” Howell said.
The Greene County Public Health will ensure the county has the proper number of masks in its efforts of keeping the community health and safe throughout the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release from Greene County Public Health Public Information Officer, Laurie Fox.
The Greene County Public Health hopes to have reusable mask donations in the thousands before school starts.
“They wear out overtime and after you wash it so many times, it’s time to get rid of it,” Howell said. “Sometimes they get stained and dirty. Kids may be playing with the mask on and it ends up in the dirt. We want to make sure there’s enough available.”
Anyone interested in donating a supply of masks are asked to contact Kristen Bean at 937-374-5646, 937-309-2877 or kbean@gcph.info to schedule a pick-up or delivery.
Drop-off donations are also being accepted at the Greene County Public Health located at 360 Wilson Dr. in Xenia.
For anyone interested in making masks for the community, instructions can be found here.