Community partners join together to collect and distribute masks to essential workers
Olmsted County and the City of Rochester are teaming up with healthcare partners to collect and distribute face masks to organizations in need.
The initiative follows recent CDC guidelines urging people to cover their faces in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
The recommendation regarding face coverings — which experts say should be used in addition to the six-foot rule — has led to increased demand for non-medical essential service staff and volunteers.
The need is especially acute for congregate facilities, first responder agencies, and homecare and other healthcare settings. According to a news release, those organizations will be the first to receive donated masks.
Making a mask
Individuals interested in making masks are asked to follow CDC guidelines (found here) and to ensure the masks “fit snug but be comfortable against the face and allow for breathing without restriction.”
In addition to the example on the CDC website, additional organizations, such as Deaconess Health and Allina Health, have put together tutorials.
Once completed, the masks can be dropped off at the following sites in the area. All finished masks should be placed inside a clean plastic bag (a plastic grocery store bag tied shut will work).
Rochester Fire Stations have bins located outside in their parking lots that are available 24/7:
Fire Station 1: 521 S Broadway
Fire Station 2: 2185 Wheelock Drive NE
Fire Station 3: 2755 2nd Street SW
Fire Station 4: 1875 41st Street NW
Fire Station 5: 305 28th Street SE
Mayo Clinic accepts donations weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at drive-up donations centers, located at:
Gonda Building, 200 First Street SW — East entrance
Mayo Family Clinic Southeast, 4544 Canal Place SE
Donated masks will be used by staff who do not work in patient care areas, as well as by patients and visitors.
Olmsted Medical Center accepts finished masks weekdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at its Marketing and Foundation Offices at:
102 Elton Hills Drive
More info found here: https://www.olmmed.org/facemasks
Rochester Public Schools accepts donations weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.at:
Franklin Elementary School, 1801 9th Ave SE – Door 1
Jefferson Elementary School, 1201 10th Ave NE – Door 1 and 2
Gage Elementary School, 1300 40th Street NW – Door 1
Sunset Terrace Elementary School, 1707 19th Ave NW – Door 1
Individuals who would like to donate fabric or elastic are asked to call the City of Rochester Covid-19 Information Hotline at 507-328-2822.
Collection bins for materials are also located outside Rochester Fire Stations. Zumbro Valley Medical Society will direct the materials to people making face masks for agencies providing essential services.
If an organization is need of masks, it can call the above hotline.
Cover photo via the public domain
