The CDC recommends the use of cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19.  The Washington County Extension Service contributed to this health recommendation through organizing donations from the community and distributing kits to the community.  The University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Administration facilitated a state-wide donation of cloth face coverings to the Kentucky Children's Hospital.  The Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent set up a donation site, promoted on social media, sent donated items to UK, and sent thank you letters to all who donated.  There were 3,221 cloth face coverings donated to Kentucky Children's Hospital and 153 of those were from Washington County.  

The Washington County Extension Service is also offering free kits for community members to make their own cloth face coverings, with guidance from UK Family and Consumer Sciences Administration and Jeanne Badgett, Senior Extension Associate for Clothing and Textiles.  Each kit includes materials to make the face covering as well as CDC instructions and best practice guidelines.  Kits are left outside in front of the Extension Office for community members to pick up at their convenience.  So far, we have distributed 53 cloth face covering kits that require sewing and 96 bandana-style kits that do not require sewing.  Most of the no-sew kits were distributed in partnership with the Washington County 4-H Youth Development Agent in Brown Bag Project Kits.  One client left this comment on our Facebook page: "Thank you for the mask kits, I haven't had my sewing machine out for years, made masks for my family, thank you again!"  The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent will continue to provide kits in accordance with the availability of materials and needs of the community.