The Lincoln County Sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help to help it gather 5,000 cloth masks for people at greater risk for getting the coronavirus as the area slowly reopens to business activity and visitors.
In addition to getting more masks first responders, health care and essential workers, the sheriff’s emergency management division is asking for additional help to provide cloth masks to senior citizens, people in group homes, the disabled, people receiving social services, minority groups and the homeless.
Virginia Demaris, emergency manager, said 900 cloth masks have been collected so far with 400 of them distributed to essential workers.
Organizations interested in distributing cloth masks should contact the Lincoln County Call center for more information at LincolnCoCallCenter@co.lincoln.or.us or 541-265-0621.
The county has set up donation sites at four fire stations, which will take masks between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays:
- North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Bob Everest Station, 2525 N.W. Highway 101, Lincoln City;
- Newport Fire Department, 245 N.W. 10th St.;
- Toledo Fire Department, 285 N.E. Burgess Road, Toledo;
- Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue, 145 N.E. Alsea Highway, Waldport
“This is a very significant way community members can support our community,” said Demaris. “When Lincoln County begins to reopen, community members will still need to use physical distancing, wearing of face coverings in public, and continue to follow good hygiene practice such as washing hands for 20 seconds.”
