United Way collecting masks, supplies to reach kids, families in need

The United Way of Hall County is asking residents to help out their neighbors who may not have access to hygienic supplies like masks and cleaning supplies.

"We are working to partner with the Northeast Georgia Health System and the schools to get homemade masks and some cleaning supplies out to the community," said Jessica Dudley, President and CPO of United Way of Hall County. "We're working to have these masks and cleaning supplies distributed when they are taking out food during the week on their bus stops."

Dudley said they hope to have 3,000 masks to meet their immediate need, but also know that the number of needed masks could grow. 

"So we're asking the community to help us by making these homemade masks," said Dudley. "They can take them over to the Medical Center Foundation office, which is at 2150 Limestone Parkway."

The Medical Center Foundation will help count out the masks and prepare them for distribution. Dudley said those who have extra paper product, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and other items can donate those at the Foundation office.

In addition to supplying families with masks, Dudley said they also have two social workers who continue to work during the pandemic and help vulnerable community members with things like rent, utilities and other needs at the Compass Center on Oak Street in Gainesville. 

"Rent, utilities and food continue to be our three big challenges we're trying to work through," said Dudley. "So even though landlords are not necessarily evicting right now or the utility companies are waiting on some of those late fees, our families our living paycheck to paycheck." Dudley said that means when things return to something close to normal, those families will still need to pay those bills.

"We would be grateful for any thing folks can give to our COVID-19 fund as we continue to help support the families that are coming to our Compass Center," Dudley said.