Want to donate homemade face masks? Here’s how to help.

A process for people to donate homemade face masks and related supplies to support the community response to coronavirus has been created for residents in and around Dayton.

The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA), in partnership with Montgomery County Emergency Management and Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County, announced the process in a press release Thursday.

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“Many generous individuals, nonprofits, private companies and others are reaching out to offer support. While our hospitals are making the most of our inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE), there is still a need for additional equipment and supplies due to increased national demand,” said President and CEO of the Greater Area Hospital Association Sarah Hackenbracht.

At this time, only donations of homemade face masks and related supplies will be accepted from individuals.

Starting Friday, those who wish to donate homemade face masks can drop off their donations at St. Vincent de Paul, 945 S. Edwin C. Moses Dr. Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Donations can be dropped off at the thrift store donation drop which is a staffed door near the loading dock on the north side of the store. Call 937-228-1000 with questions.

“This centralized location will allow for appropriate storage, laundering and distribution throughout the region if needed. Donations should be delivered in plastic bags no larger than 13 gallons, ideally in bags that are closed/tied for storage,” the press release says.

For those who have supplies to create homemade face masks, but have not yet assembled them, supplies of elastic are needed.

Montgomery County has a stockpile of never-used N-95 masks that need repaired to bring them into compliance

Donations of thread, one-fourth-inch elastic, and gallon sized baggies are needed to repair these N-95 masks to bring them into compliance.

If you don’t have supplies at home to make masks, hospital officials say that people can still help by staying at home. When people reduce how many other people they come in contact with, they are helping protect the critical supply of masks by staying healthy and reducing the spread of COVID-19.

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For more information, visit gdaha.org/news.

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