Free cloth masks will be given to low-income residents at Evergreen Christian Thursday
Low-income residents can pick up free cloth masks at Evergreen Christian Community in Olympia between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, July 9, according to Thurston County Public Health and Social Services.
Washington state purchased masks for residents whose income falls below 200 percent of the federal poverty line and has allocated more than 128,000 of them to Thurston County. The one-time event Thursday is part of the county’s initiative to distribute its allotment of masks via local organizations, which are funneling the face coverings to the populations they serve, according to Magen Johnson, Thurston County Public Health’s COVID-19 spokesperson.
Those who take advantage of the Thursday event, hosted by Thurston County Emergency Management and the Thurston County Food Bank, will be able to pick up masks in a drive-through lane in the church’s parking lot, according to Johnson.
There are three face covering orders active in Washington that are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19:
- Employers have to provide face coverings to employees who don’t work alone;
- A statewide mandate requiring cloth face coverings in most public areas went into effect June 26, and
- An order went into effect Tuesday directing businesses to require customers to wear face coverings.
Thurston County Food Bank will distribute food and other supplies, such as toilet paper and laundry soap, at the Thursday event, according to Development Director Judy Jones. People coming for masks will find it easy to access those additional items if they’re interested, she said.
The organization has been hosting pop-up food banks at a variety of locations since April and will be hosting at least two per week through the end of this month, Jones said. The frequency may change after that. A schedule of the pop-ups is available on the Thurston County Food Bank’s Facebook page and website.
How to get your free mask Thursday
- What: Free mask pick-up for low-income Thurston County residents
- When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 9
- Where: Evergreen Christian Community, 1000 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
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