CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – April 24, 2020 – The City of Cedar Rapids is calling on community volunteers to help create and donate cloth masks, which will be distributed to local service agencies and community members in need.
The City will be accepting donations until Friday, May 15, 2020. Residents who wish to donate masks can drop them off at a variety of safe drop-box locations.
Drop-boxes are located:
·City Services Center front lobby (500 15th Ave SW)
·City Hall (corner of 1st Avenue SE and 1st Street SE)
·Water Administration Building (1111 Shaver Road NE)
Another opportunity for mask donations will be the United Way of East Central Iowa food and essential items drive. In addition to masks, residents may drop-off personal care items, cleaning supplies, and food items at the Lindale Mall to support older adults impacted by COVID-19.
Food & Essential Items Drive
(UWECI in partnership with Lindale Mall, Z102.9, HACAP and Horizons Food)
Location: Lindale Mall (former Younkers location, near Carter’s)
Dates and Times:
·May 1, 4 pm – 6 pm
·May 2, 11 am – 4 pm
·May 3, 11 am – 4 pm
Cloth Mask Resources
The effort supports recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).
Cloth face masks should fit snuggly and be cleaned regularly. Children under 2 years of age should not wear a cloth masks. Guidance and tutorials on making cloth masks can be found through the following credible sources:
·CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
·UnityPoint Health: https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/sewing-surgical-masks.aspx
·Mercy Cedar Rapids: https://www.mercycare.org/news/2020/mercy-kicks-off-mask-wearing-initiative-among-employees-and-comm/
For question, please contact City of Cedar Rapids Community Service Coordinator Stephanie Schrader at 319-286-5855 or s.schrader@cedar-rapids.org.