WJLE Radiothon for the DCHS Class of 2020 Project Graduation Canceled

March 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the WJLE Radiothon to raise money for the DCHS Class of 2020 Project Graduation scheduled for Friday, March 27 has been canceled. It could be rescheduled at a later date.

Project Graduation is an all night drug-free, alcohol-free graduation party for members of the DCHS Class of 2020 committed to having a safe, wholesome, yet entertaining celebration together for the last time as a class. The event is set to begin following the graduation ceremony on Friday, May 15

March 25, 2020
By:

Bill Luton of Luton’s Web is developing a website for restaurants in counties of the Upper Cumberland region to share their information and updates as to what they are offering during this stressful time.

UC EATS will provide details regarding hours of operation, curbside pick-up, delivery, outdoor dining, and other applicable services.

The user-friendly site will categorize participating restaurants by county, instantly directing viewers to a list of local establishments and their respective contact information. Whether one works from home, an office, or within the service industry, the intent of UC EATS is to facilitate communication and connectivity by providing a sense of ease for all parties involved.

Per Bill Luton:

“In addition to my clients and friends, their employees are struggling, and they are all in need of assistance during this turbulent time. Because no one is invincible to the ramifications of current events, we must empathize and support our fellow neighbors while we see this through. Members of the food industry are required to prepare their dishes in accordance to the guidelines issued by the CDC and State of Tennessee Health Department. As safety is of the utmost importance, any establishment with a State Health rating of “C” or lower will not be allowed to participate in this project.”

For more information from the National Restaurant Association visit: https://restaurant.org/Covid19

To submit information, go to uceats.org and fill out the information form. If you need more information, email Bill at bill@luton.us

March 25, 2020
By: Bill Conger

Health care workers will be reaping from what community volunteers sew. Several local folks have banned together in a group known as “Masks of Love” to help with the shortage of personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Gianna Owens, a local Nurse practitioner, has been sounding the alarm of the pandemic for a few months now,” explained April Martin, PhD, Family and Consumer Science Agent with UT/TSU Extension. “She sent out a plea over social media one day last week. Around the same time, I saw where a ministry in Indiana was making fabric face masks for healthcare workers. I had an “ah-ha” moment.”
Martin, who occasionally teaches sewing classes to 4-Hers, thought it would make sense for the Family and Education clubs (FCE) to use their skills with a needle and thread to make a difference.

“It occurred to me that I might be able to help with the shortage of personal protective equipment that our nurses, doctors, and other healthcare employees are facing,” she told WJLE. “In addition, so many people are at home, bored and looking for something to do. This has been a way for a lot of us to pitch in, do something fun, and protect the healthcare workers we love and care for so much. They are on the front line of this pandemic war, and we want to do whatever we can to help them during this unprecedented crisis.”

In just four days, 150 people including non-club members have joined the effort.

Two volunteers—Joanie Williams and Amanda Webb Blair—have partnered together with the mask making. Blair cuts material, and Williams sews.

“As a nurse, I know how important it is to protect our health care providers,” Williams says. “We all need to step up and do what we can during this crisis.”

“I was motivated because my daughter is a brand new nurse, and I worry about her safety because in this scary time, I find it easier to think we can win this battle when we have all hands on deck,” explains Blair.

“That can be delivering food to the elderly, making masks for our healthcare workers and our mail carriers, and by just staying put and quarantining at home. It’s going to take everyone working together to defeat this virus.

Now UT Extension agencies across the state are getting involved with their FCE clubs and other volunteers.

“I realized when I got this project going that I would need a partner in the medical field to help get the masks dispersed to all the workers,” says Martin. “Shan [Williams] Stout, St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital, answered my call for help. This would be very difficult without Shan’s help”

“Our hospital was glad to help support the efforts of the FCE Club by connecting our available community volunteers, and preparing and packaging these masks for distribution,” Stout said. “These handmade masks are supported by the CDC as a resource to help extend the life of N-95 masks if supplies diminish, or limited quantities are available. The masks are placed over the N-95. The volunteers are using double layer fabrics with interior filters or interfacing. These masks are not intended as a replacement for the N-95, but the group is receiving patterns and instructions from hospital systems that have already implemented the use of these handmade masks.”

“All donated masks will be distributed on behalf of the FCE Club to clinics, home health services, physician practices, EMS, police departments, and any other public servants as requested,” adds Stout. Remaining masks will be “on hold” for use by healthcare personnel if the need arises to ration N-95 masks.”

“We currently have an adequate supply of N-95 masks at our regional hospitals,” said Chana Roller, Area Director of Implementation for The Resource Group | Saint Thomas Health, “but we are actively calling local businesses, construction companies, and any other sources to request any donations of N-95 masks, gloves, goggles, or Tyvek painters coveralls to help in our preparedness efforts. If you would like to donate these (new) items, please drop them off at the delivery dock behind Saint Thomas DeKalb, or call or text (931) 273-6901 to make other arrangements.”

To find out more details, you can join the Facebook group, “Masks of Love,” or contact April Martin at 615-542-6403 or amartin3@utk.edu.

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