Many senior living facilities accept mask donations

MOSES LAKE — Some local assisted-living and extended-care facilities are accepting face masks made by volunteers during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as other kinds of donations.

Linzi Michel, director of The Cambridge Assisted Living in Quincy, said the facility is accepting masks and any protective gowns people want to make.

“We are taking them and are very appreciative of anything folks donate,” she said.

At The Cambridge, as well as many other facilities, residents are mostly staying in their rooms, rather than venturing out with masks. Michel said she is looking for donations of children’s art that can be laminated and turned into placemats. Those are given to residents with their meals. “Something happy-go-lucky, something different,” Michel said.

Masks are being accepted at the Columbia Basin Hospital nursing home and Garden Oasis Assisted Living in Ephrata, also part of the hospital. Susan Scheib, CBH public relations director and hospital foundation coordinator, said the building is closed to visitors, but people can make donations by appointment.

“We have been accepting masks,” Scheib said. “We’re appreciative of everything the community has done for us.”

Most Garden Oasis residents are spending days indoors. Scheib said she’s asking kids to make greeting cards for the residents. Whether it’s masks or greeting cards, people can contact Scheib, 509-717-5203, to set up a time to drop off donations.

Avamere at Moses Lake director Jody Montoya said donations of masks are being accepted, and of books, magazines, puzzles, and other things to help the facility’s residents pass the time. Monroe House director Linda Edwards said the facility isn’t accepting homemade masks, but would accept donations of N95 masks.

Laurie Ahmann, administrator at Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Care Center in Moses Lake, said some extra information would be required before determining whether or not to accept mask donations. Summer Wood administrators would have to know what kind of masks, she said, and then she could ask the facility’s owners for permission. “I think it’s very, very cool that (people) are making them,” she said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.