- Credibility:
JEFFESON PARK — Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) will be giving out free masks to residents who need them Saturday.
Local businessman and ex-mayoral candidate Willie Wilson donated 20,000 masks to the 45th Ward Tuesday.
Gardiner will distribute the masks Saturday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Hoyne Savings Bank, 4729 N. Milwaukee Ave., according to a Facebook post.
The first hour of the mask giveaway is only for seniors and other high-risk groups.
“I ask that you please adhere to the time set aside for our most vulnerable residents, our seniors and high risk groups,” Gardiner said in the post.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s new stay at home order kicks in Friday and will require people ages 2 or older to wear a face covering when they’re not able to social distance, like inside a store or on a crowded sidewalk.
But Chicagoans don’t need to rush out to buy masks — reusable face coverings can be made out of items people might have at home, like old T-shirts. The Centers for Disease Control has an online guide for how to make and wear cloth masks.
Pritzker said he doesn’t want police to arrest people who aren’t wearing masks and Lightfoot has echoed those sentiments, noting she doesn’t want to punish people who might not have the money or resources to buy or make a mask.
But the governor said stores can and should refuse service to people who aren’t wearing face coverings, and essential businesses will be required to give their employees coverings if they’re not able to stay 6 feet away from people in the workplace.
Block Club Chicago’s coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Already subscribe? Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
