The Polk County Chamber of Commerce is thanking one local company for their generous donations of masks that should provide enough for younger students in Polk School District who don’t have access to one from home, and for educators as well.

Executive Director Blair Elrod reported this morning that the chamber received 3,120 youth-sized masks and another 840 adult masks from Gildan here in Polk County to provide to children and educators in the Polk School District for the Chamber Children’s Cloth Mask Drive.

“The Chamber chose to donate masks to the elementary schools because of the smaller size masks needed for these students. While adult sized masks are more readily available, we realize that these smaller masks aren’t as easy to find,” Elrod explained in a Facebook post this morning thanking Gildan for their donation.

“If if wasn’t for companies like Gildan and local businesses and individuals making a difference in this area, it would be much more difficult for our community to ensure that our children are protected even while at school,” Elrod said.

The masks heading to the Polk School District are much appreciated by the administration, according to Superintendent Laurie Atkins.

“Polk School District is grateful for the outpouring of support the community has shown through their donations made to the Polk County Chamber of Commerce’s Mask Drive for our students and employees,” she said. “We will be able to provide all (elementary) students and employees with an additional face mask.”

That matters more than you think. One of the issues with face masks is that even being effective in helping keep people from unintentionally spreading COVID-19 to others, it also requires washing after use to ensure that the request from health leaders to wear masks works the way they are intended. Having an extra – even one for each day of the week is best – means that masks can be rotated, and valuable time washing masks isn’t wasted each and every day.

The best way to ensure masks are cleaned well is to wash them in warm water in the sink with antibacterial soap, then let them hang dry for those wearing cloth masks. paper masks purchased in bulk at stores can’t be reused at all, and should be discarded once used to go in public spaces after they are removed.

It makes the greatest difference for youth who might not have the resources to always keep a mask clean on a daily basis, and might need an extra for the next day of school.

“It is kind of alarming is the age that COVID-19 has impacted has gotten lower over time, and so these timely donations will make a great impact for our students,” Elrod said.

Additional donations from businesses and even some hand-sewn from local residents have made sure that every elementary school student and every PSD employee will be able to wear a mask during the school day should they choose to do so.

“To say we are grateful would be an understatement. Thank you to all those willing to spend their time sewing for this great cause, or purchasing a mask to donate and again a special thanks to Gildan for caring about our students and community,” Elrod posted on behalf of the Chamber.

The Chamber has long been involved in education and workforce development efforts in the community, and this is one way that Elrod said was simple and easy for the organization to reach out and help.

“Education is one of the pillars the Chamber believes in to ensure that local business will continue to grow in the future, that’s why this drive is so important to us and our business partners in the community,” she said. “We’re very appreciative of Gildan’s gift, and they are just one of the many members who help make our county stronger by the day.”