Red Cross collecting homemade face coverings to distribute to veterans
The American Red Cross has provided comfort and care to service members, veterans and their families for over 130 years. Through our service to the Armed Forces Department, we help members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to the challenges of military service. We provide emergency communications for military members serving abroad, help veterans cope with life after the military and assist families with pre- and post-deployment challenges.
Throughout history, the Red Cross has sought the public’s assistance with projects to help the military and veterans during difficult times. In war time, we asked for socks and helmet liners to be knitted; coverings for casts to be sewn; and lap blankets to be crocheted or quilted for injured wheelchair patients. This legacy continues during the current pandemic crisis.
The Central & Southern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross is accepting generous donations of homemade face coverings, which we will distribute to the VA Medical Centers in Cincinnati, Dayton, Chillicothe and Columbus.
If you are interested in making face coverings to support this effort, instructions can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html. We are particularly looking for face coverings that are sewn, whether by hand or machine.
Please place completed face coverings in a sealed plastic bag, with a note indicating the number of coverings within the bag. The face coverings can be mailed via the US Postal Service to any of the following Red Cross offices:
• Miami Valley Ohio Chapter, 370 W First Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402;
• South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N. Bridge Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601;
• Greater Columbus Ohio Chapter, 995 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205;
• Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, 2111 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207;
• East Central Ohio Chapter, 143 S. 30th Street, Newark, Ohio 43058.
Tips and tricks:
• Consider expanding the sizes seen in the link above to accommodate a wider variety of face types/sizes (man vs. woman, facial hair, etc.).
• Using a softer material for the interior part of the mask can make it more comfortable to wear.
• Launder and dry material prior to making masks to reduce the chance of shrinkage.
• Tie closures provide greatest size and comfort accommodation.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit the Red Cross on Twitter at @RedCross. Locally, follow the Red Cross on Facebook and Twitter at @ARCcsor.