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Greensboro, Local Groups Will Pass Out Thousands Of Free Masks To Public

Greensboro leaders hope local residents will wear face masks when they go to places like grocery stores, where social distancing is more difficult. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Greensboro is partnering with local groups to provide free face masks to the public as concerns over COVID-19 remain. They'll be available starting Wednesday, April 29.

The city is joining forces with United Way of Greater Greensboro and Cone Health. The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation is underwriting the initiative.

Their goal is to distribute thousands of masks to local residents to minimize the spread of COVID-19. “We've ordered 30,000 to start,” says Jake Keys, a spokesperson with the city.

The coverings will be made of reusable fabric. Health officials advise individuals to wear them in public, especially where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Residents can pick up one free facemask for each member of their household while supplies last. The city will pass them out Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Melvin Municipal Office Building on Washington Street. They will also be distributed on Wednesdays only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at United Way of Greater Greensboro on Yanceyville Street.

Other cities are also working on similar projects. Winston-Salem recently began a community-wide initiative called “Mask The City.” Organizers say they want to get as many residents as possible to wear a face mask in public through May 31.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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