CMS closed but workers serving food need masks. Here’s how you can help.
While schools have been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, employees of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have continued to provide meals for children. Now, face masks are starting to run out and CMS is asking for donations.
CMS District 4 Representative Carol Sawyer said there are around 500 employees working in the kitchen as well custodial and security jobs. Her goal is to for each employee employee to have two masks — totaling around 1,000.
“We want to be able to protect our front-line staff, who are preparing and distributing meals to our students,” she said.
North Carolina K-12 schools are closed under Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order at least through May 15. For many families, the sudden closure means they’ve struggled to feed children. The district enrolls around 150,000 students — 40% of whom qualify for free or subsidized meals.
CMS is currently operating around 68 drive-thru sites where adults can pickup meals for children, Sawyer said.
Superintendent Earnest Winston has said the service is targeted toward students who meet the federal guidelines for being economically disadvantaged. To pick up meals, the children receiving them must be present at the time of pickup and adults are asked to stay in the car.
Homemade masks for Charlotte schools
Sawyer said there are guides online on how to sew masks and recommended that sewers use high quality cotton so the masks can be washed and ironed.
“This is every sewers dream. If you’re a quilter or a seamstress, you have this ever growing stash of fabric,” she said. “So this is justifying my stash of fabric.”
Sawyer estimated it takes her around 15 minutes to sew a mask. For those who have never sewn before, she said the process is “very easy.”
Those interested in sewing or ironing masks, donating fabric or lending equipment such as a sewing machine should contact Carol Sawyer or another board member at carole.sawyer@cms.k12.nc.us
CMS is also looking for free-standing automatic hand sanitizer dispensers, she said.
