Local organizations partner to help distribute face coverings

Posted on June 3, 2020
The “Take Cover” initiative runs through June 22. (Facebook/Illinois Heart & Lung Foundation)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – Several local organizations are asking for the public’s help to gather face masks or coverings for those in underserved and vulnerable communities.

The Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation has launched the “Take Cover” initiative. The goal is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to “Take Cover” to help stop community transmission of the coronavirus and better protect the health and safety of residents at the highest risk.

“The risk is real, it still exists, there still is no treatment or vaccine, so it is very important that people are still trying to prevent transmission,” said IHLF executive director Lisa Slater.

Slater said they are looking for hand-sewn or store bought face coverings. Donations of fabric and thread are also being accepted. All items can be dropped off in collection bins at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, the McLean County Health Department, and both the Bloomington and Normal police departments.

Once the face coverings are collected, the McLean County Health Department will strategically distribute the coverings to individuals and families.

More information is available here.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…