As the coronavirus outbreak continues, it turns out that the times are bringing many people, celebrities, families, and companies together. We’ve been seeing all types of people and organizations collaborating to make a difference. Many people are concerned about frontline workers and are doing what they can to pitch in.
In Milwaukee, United Way and the Fiserv Forum are asking for help to reach their goal of creating 3.5 million homemade masks for healthcare providers and other essential service providers in Milwaukee. Absolutely anyone who wants to help can help.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County is proud to partner on MaskUpMKE with the Milwaukee Bucks, Medical College of Wisconsin, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, Ignite Change, FiservForum, Rebel Converting and Habitat For Humanity.
Volunteers are invited to pick up a mask kit from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, take the kit home to assemble the masks, then in 4 days return the assembled kits to Fiserv Forum.
Mask Making Health and Safety
In order to ensure masks are safe to be distributed throughout our community, volunteers must meet specific requirements to be eligible to assemble masks. You must confirm that all statements below are true for you and anyone in your household/facility where masks will be made.
1. I have not tested positive for COVID-19 at any time.
2. I have not experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) in the past 4 weeks.
3. I have not come into contact with anyone testing positive for COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks.
4. I have not, to my knowledge, been exposed to or come into contact with someone with or presumed to have COVID-19.
5. I am not a smoker or have a history of lung disease (or any other disease that makes you more likely to get a respiratory infection).
6. I am not a health care worker who has been in contact with patients in the past 2 weeks.
7. I am not an essential worker who comes into daily contact with the public in an environment where social distancing is not possible (grocery worker, bus driver, etc).
8. I have followed CDC guidelines to avoid infection (stay home as much as possible, keep 6 feet away from others, and wash hands frequently).
How it works
1. You will sign up to participate by clicking your preferred pick-up time slot under “Pick-Up Timeslots”.
2. Each kit has enough materials to make 700 masks. Limit two kits per car per sign-up. You may request additional kits online once prior kits have been completed.
3. Each kit will be assigned a number for tracking to your registration.
4. View the map for pick up location.
5. You will not need to leave your car. Someone will deliver the kit directly to your vehicle.
6. Please choose one of the methods of making the masks below (the below tools are not provided):
1. Scissors
2. Hole punch
3. Stapler
7. It is required that you have an area that can be cleaned in your home to assemble the masks. You need to disinfect the surface for assembly per CDC Guidelines.
8. You are expected to wash hands prior to handling the kit and contents.
9. A handout will be available for assembly instructions for completing the masks with a scissors, hole punch, or stapler
10. It is estimated to take one minute per mask to complete.
11. Once you have completed the masks, you will seal the box of completed masks and write the date and time on the label on the outside of the box and which method(s) you used to make the masks, scissors, hole punch and/or stapler.
12. Deliver your completed kit(s) to Fiserv Forum 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, 4 days after picking up your kit during the assigned shift.
Again, it’s going to take a lot of us to continue to lift each other up during this time. It’s important to reflect on those who are literally putting their life on the line for the life of others. Not everyone has the good side of the stick right now and compassion can go a long way.
I challenge you to find a way to give. It doesn’t have to cost you much money. It could be a deed. There are many organizations looking to partner with people at this time. Check it out and get involved.
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