Masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be added to back-to-school lists for Greeley-Evans School District 6 students who return to school next month.
As part of the district’s comprehensive plan for reopening school buildings when classes begin in August, the district requires students and staff to have masks every day.
The district has initiated a campaign to create a stockpile of masks for students who might need a mask from time-to-time, and District 6 and a supporting organization are seeking the public’s help.
“We anticipate occasionally, at every school and every day, kids will show up without masks,” said Theresa Myers, Greeley-Evans School District 6 chief of communications. “We want to have a few available. It’s not going to be a massive distribution.”
Success Foundation, an organization that works in support of the district, has started a campaign to acquire 20,000 home-made masks or donations in lieu of masks to help with large-scale purchase.
The campaign runs through July 24, though Myers said the deadline could be extended.
Myers added the district does not want to turn away students at the doors to schools, but it it’s “going to be strict about having masks.”
Julie Hill, Success Foundation executive director, said the organization is looking for 7,000 child-sized masks and about 13,000 adult-size masks. The foundation is also anticipating it will need to collect about $30,000 in the event it has to buy up to 15,000 masks.
“We’re asking volunteers to donate materials and their time make the masks,” Hill said.
More information about the mask campaign is available on the Success Foundation website. Those volunteering to sew masks will be provided with a pattern approved by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hill said early in the pandemic the foundation and the district looked into acquiring home-made masks, recognizing the need. Hill said there was group of mask makers based in northern Colorado, but it’s largely disbanded and she knows it’s likely the foundation will end up purchasing most of the masks.
“We’re here for the district and what their needs are,” Hill said. “We’re trying to support anything and everything to get students back to school.”
