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Efforts also underway for face masks

 

The United Way of Freeborn County announced this week it has started a safety net fund for emergency and disaster relief.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund will be utilized for immediate, intermediate and long-term recovery for the local United Way’s direct services and nonprofit partners who are involved in the pandemic response, according to a press release.

These services include meal and grocery delivery for homebound seniors and at-risk populations.

United Way of Freeborn County Executive Director Erin Haag said the United Way has always been a disaster relief organization and people look to the organization for help, such as after severe flooding a few years ago when it organized volunteers for cleanup.

The United Way of Freeborn County is coordinating with volunteers in this instance as well, and working closely with the Freeborn County Public Health Department and Albert Lea Fire Department.

Haag stressed that 100% of the donations received into the fund will stay in Freeborn County.

“It’s all staying here where we need it the most,” she said.

In addition to funds from the public, it is seeking out grant funds from other organizations and foundations to support the cause.

“We plan on it to be a permanent resource, and we can hopefully build that over time, and when we have some emergencies, we have a place to turn,” she said.

She said while the fund is not to the point yet where the organization can start allocating funds, she hopes people will realize the fund exists and give to it if they have the ability to do so.                 

“Now, more than ever, this is critical,” the local United Way website states. “We all have many concerns and questions — our health, our employment, our financial security, and even our education, are all at risk. The rapid changes to our daily lives are evolving in unprecedented ways.”

People wishing to contribute to the United Way Safety Fund can do so in the following ways:

• Online: Visit http://unitedwayfc.org to donate with your credit card.

• Mail: Send checks to the United Way of Freeborn County at 314 S. Broadway, Albert Lea, MN 56007. Write “Safety Net Fund” in the memo.

• In-person: Donations are being accepted at Farmer’s State Bank from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Funds will be deposited directly into a secure account specifically for the fund.

• Bank transfer: Account holders at Farmer’s State Bank can also call the bank at 373-1945 to arrange for a transfer of funds.

Organizations looking to apply for funding can find the application information online at the United Way of Freeborn County website.

“Our goal is to help where it’s needed,” Haag said, “not to create a bunch of red tape.”

 

Face masks

Haag said the United Way is also accepting masks on behalf of the county’s emergency operations center, public health department and volunteers delivering meals to seniors. She stressed that the organization is working closely with Mayo Clinic Health System for face masks, as well.

“We’re all going to be working together,” she said.

Mayo Clinic Health System is now asking all staff and contractors working on-site to wear masks, including those who are not involved in direct patient care. To help in efforts to provide face masks to employees, patients and visitors where practical and possible, the health system on Thursday began accepting donations of homemade cloth face coverings created following CDC guidelines.

Donations of face coverings are being collected from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday in collection boxes outside the main entrance to the clinic at 404 W. Fountain St.

Masks will be gathered each day by linen services staff, laundered in Rochester and returned to Mayo Clinic Health System locations to distribute to staff who do not work in patient care areas. Once all staff members receive masks, they will be made available to patients and visitors.

A Mayo Clinic Health System press release stated cloth face masks do not replace social distancing measures and do not offer filtration, but can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. Solid fabric or patterns appropriate for a workplace setting should be used.

Elastic should be used to secure the mask to the face. If no elastic is available, the CDC recommends hair ties or elastic headbands. Fabric ties can also be used to tie the mask behind the head head.

An example of a basic sewn cloth face covering pattern can be found on the CDC website.