Staff Report

ROCKFORD – The Winnebago County Emergency Operations Center, in coordination with The Salvation Army, has announced the opening of the COVID-19 Donations Center.

The center is at 5460 E. State St., the former Circuit City building, is accepting donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  Monday through Friday. Donations, except PPE, will be distributed to agencies serving the homeless and those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.

Personal Protective Equipment donations will be distributed to local health
care facilities.

The following items are the only items accepted at the center: paper products–paper towels, napkins and paper plates; personal hygiene items like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razors, lotion, and body wash; baby care items–diapers, baby wipes, baby blankets, baby bottles and formula; cleaning supplies; laundry supplies; and homemade face masks.

Personal protective equipment for first responders and health care workers include
N95 masks (NIOSH approved), procedure masks (ASTM II or III), isolation gowns, exam gloves (nitrile or vinyl), eye protection (glasses or goggles), face shields, hand wipes, TYVEK suits, sanitizing wipes, sanitizing sprays, anti-microbial hand soap hand sanitizer biohazards bags, gallons of bleach, thermometers (touchfree) and shoe covers.
Community members interested in making masks should follow the guidance provided by the CDC  or receive guidance form the Winnebago County Health Department.

When dropping off donations, community members will stay in their car. Masked and gloved volunteers will collect the items from the vehicle. Donations should not be dropped off outside of the staffed hours. Special thanks to the International

Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, National Electrical Contractors Association, Fitzgerald Equipment, Rockford ShareFest, and First Free Rockford, as well as numerous other partners.