PEORIA, Ill. — JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores donated 2,500 face coverings to local organizations.
State Senator Dave Koehler along with JOANN Fabric and UnityPoint Health have teamed up to help protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19.
“It’s really needed,” Koehler said. “Because, there are just people in our community and our society that don’t have access masks. Masks are hard to find right now.”
Dr. Samer Sader, Chief Medical Officer at UnityPoint Health, agrees the masks are much needed in the community.
“The reality is if we want to get back to a degree of normalcy, we need to be protected and we need the community to be protected. If any part of our community falls short of that, the entire community is at risk,” Sader said.
Medical Director for Heartland Health Services, Dr. Gregg Stoner, said it has been hard for patients to find face coverings.
“We’ve been visiting five shelters and also dealing with un-sheltered homeless people since the pandemic has started, and so we run into people that really need these,” Stoner said.
Many organizations in the area will be receiving these donated masks, such as:
Carver Community Center
Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois
Phoenix Community Development Services
Easterseals Central Illinois
Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area
Peoria Township Supervisor Frank Abdnour’s Office
Peoria County Sheriff’s Department
City of Peoria Police Department
Tri-County Urban League
Crittenton Centers
EP!C
Center for Prevention of Abuse
Tazewell County Resource Center (TCRC)
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Heartland Health Services
Boys & Girls Club of Peoria
Children’s Home Association of Illinois
We Care
YWCA Pekin
Center for Youth & Family Solutions
Friendship House
