VMH requests more face masks; Need continues in community
Additional face mask donations still needed ... Pictured above is a huge shipment of over 200 masks recently received at Veterans Memorial Hospital from Darlene (Halvorson) Keehn. Darlene is originally from Waukon and worked at the hospital before she was married and moved away. She retired in March and since has made over 2,000 masks. After reading in the local newspaper that masks were needed at the hospital, this shipment arrived. She has donated these masks in memory of her parents, Herbert and Lorine Halvorson, who were longtime residents of Waukon. Veterans Memorial Hospital greatly appreciates all of the mask donations they have received since COVID-19 began. Submitted photo.
Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support in making and donating face masks for patients and staff. With the reopening of most elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations, if possible.
Face masks are required for all patients and visitors at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Everyone is asked to wear a mask when they enter the facility. If they do not have a mask already, they are given one of these reusable masks to wear each time they return to the hospital. With the limited supply of masks, it is requested the patients and visitors take their masks home and launder them in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer, then wear them over and over again.
The hospital is also still encouraging face masks to be donated to the area communities. The Waukon Economic Development Office, Lansing City Clerk Office, Postville City Clerk Office and Monona Chamber of Commerce Office are all accepting homemade masks and supplying them to the grocery stores in their communities. These masks are then being handed out to each qualifying customer to have and wear to enter the public places they need to go.
The masks are reusable and the shopper should keep and launder the mask for reuse on each shopping visit. Again, with the limited supply, it is asked that those receiving the masks be sure to keep the same one for reuse and not take a new one each time they enter a store.
Masks can be dropped off at the following locations:
· Waukon Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Office (place in tote at front door between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. M-F)
· Lansing City Office (place in tote at front door between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. M-F)
· Postville City Office (Place in tote in front of police station door anytime)
· Monona Chamber of Commerce (place in drop off slot in front door anytime).
Be sure to put any homemade masks in a bag and leave at one of these locations. Masks will then be distributed as needed to the stores.
Masks can also be dropped off at the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital. For more information, call Erin Berns at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 Ext. 443.
