There is a huge demand for cloth masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Monroe County Department of Health are in agreement with New York State Governor Cuomo’s executive orders requiring all people in New York to wear masks or face covering in public, including when taking public or private transportation or riding in for-hire vehicles.
The United Way is in need of more that 50,000 homemade masks for distribution to nonprofit staff and clients, they are asking for help from the community. If you are able to sew, the CDC has released a step-by-step tutorial that is easy to follow and uses common sewing materials. They suggest making masks to donate, and to make some extras to give to your friends, family, and neighbors.
The CDC has also issued these important directions on how to wear cloth face coverings/masks.
Face coverings should –
•Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
•Be secured with ties or ear loops
•Include multiple layers of fabric
•Allow for breathing without restriction
•Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
Other recommendations –
•Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
•Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth when removing a face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.
•Even while wearing a face covering, the CDC still recommends that you stay at lease 6 feet away from other people (social distancing), and frequent hand washing.
The United Way has teamed up with Goodwill of the Finger Lakes to set up convenient drop off locations for your homemade masks. A clearly marked bin is located outside of the following Goodwill Donation Centers in Greece. You do not need to go into the Donation Center to leave your masks. The bins are available Sundays thru Thursdays from 9AM to 5PM.
GOODWILL DONATION CENTERS
Greece
885 Long Pond Road
Rochester, NY 14626
Greece
3654 Dewey Avenue
Rochester, NY 14616
For more information on the United Way’s mask donations visit www.uwrochester.org/COVID-19-Response/Masks
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