Thanks to the generous and ongoing donations of handmade face masks from people throughout West Michigan, Spectrum Health will begin distributing the masks to those in the community who most need them.

 

Long-term care facilities, home health workers and non-profit organizations aligned with Spectrum Health are among the groups initially identified to receive masks, based on supply and demand.

 

Spectrum Health will collect the homemade masks at its designated drop-off sites and expresses its thanks to those who have stepped up to create them. The Hastings drop-off site is located at the State Street Center Urgent Care, 1108 W. State Street and is accepting donations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

 

The decision comes in the wake of a CDC recommendation that everyone wear a reusable mask when leaving their home as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19. Hospital officials at Spectrum Health Pennock state that they will hold a reserve of the hand-made masks collected locally to make sure there is a supply available for immediate use as identified through the United Way of Barry County, the health department and other local agencies.

 

“Because people in the community have been so generous with their time and talents, Spectrum Health has collected more than 6,000 masks,” said Kurt Knoth, vice president of supply chain, Spectrum Health. “We encourage those who are able, to please continue making and donating masks."

 

A video with instructions on how to sew the preferred design is available here.

 

For questions on donations or hand-made masks, please contact Janine Dalman at Janine.dalman@spectrumhealth.org.