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Tuskegee Next Donates 10,000 N95 Masks To SIH

Face masks are an important part of preventing the spread of COVID-19. But some healthcare organizations are still having trouble keeping them stocked.

The Tuskegee Next Foundation and The Will Group decided to lend a helping hand in our region. 

Tuskegee Next honors the Tuskegee Airmen by guiding at risk kids toward a career in aviation.

Board member Rona Fourte says the organization has led dozens of people to a career in aviation.

Tuskegee Next Cadet Jessica Vargas
Credit Benjy Jeffords / WSIU
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WSIU
Tuskegee Next Cadet Jessica Vargas

  “The Tuskegee Foundation was founded on the premise of really working with the inner-city community to identify those that have a desire to be a part of the aviation industry either by way of being a pilot or in the technical operations.”

 

 

In July representatives from the Tuskegee Next and The Will Group flew in to the Southern Illinois Airport to deliver the first shipment of 10,000 N95 face masks to SIH.

The pilots are part of the Tuskegee Next program working on completing their flight hours.

Foutre says part of their mission is to fill the predicted shortage in the aviation industry over the next 20 years.

“As we move forward, we know we’re going to have a shortage and we also want to make sure that help to diversify the pilot base, we’re bringing more women in bring in more people of color into the aviation space.”

Dr. Linda Baker with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute worked with Fourte on a healthcare taskforce.

When Tuskegee Next was looking for a partner to donate face masks to, Dr. Baker had someone in mind.

“Roana called and she said we would like to give back to Southern Illinois, we’d like to do something in terms of providing PPE to individuals in Southern Illinois and she called me at the Simon Institute and asked if I could assist her with that and we thought there was no better group to work with than SIH.”

 

SIH Receives 10,000 Face Masks Donated By Tuskegee Next
Credit Benjy Jeffords / WSIU
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WSIU
SIH Receives 10,000 Face Masks Donated By Tuskegee Next

With the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise Dr. Baker knew Southern Illinois healthcare organizations could use the help.

“The goal of this event really is that this organization really wanted to give back to Southern Illinois, the Southern Illinois region and we know that wearing mask, we’ve seen the literature the science shows that wearing mask actually helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Vice President and Chief Development Officer for SIH Woody Thorne says this gift came at the right time.

“There is a shortage of mask, they’re not coming in as rapidly as we might be able to order them and so that’s why a gift like this is really, really important to a healthcare organization like ours.”

Thorne says SIH will keep 5,000 masks for employees and distribute the rest throughout Southern Illinois in August.

“Our organization has around 3,800 employees and a subset of them are interacting with patients who either have COVID or suspected COVID on an ongoing basis so those sorts of mask are very valuable in terms of preventing the spread of that disease within the healthcare environment.”

Dr. Baker says Tuskegee Next also had a surprise for SIH.

“They brought down 10,000 masks, but they also brought down 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer as well, so these products will go a long way in terms of helping this community.”

Thorne says the masks and sanitizer will go straight to the frontlines.

“It will be our direct staff that are working in COVID units or in testing sites that will be using the mask, so it’s a very much appreciated gift.”

SIH Receives 10,000 Face Masks Donated By Tuskegee Next
Credit Benjy Jeffords / WSIU
/
WSIU
SIH Receives 10,000 Face Masks Donated By Tuskegee Next

  Dr Baker feels this donation will make Southern Illinois safer considering the rise of COVID-19 cases in the region.

“These are N95 mask and we know that getting these in the hands of people in the communities as school starts to get back in sessions, individuals come back to campus and people are walking around the community, having access to protective equipment is important.”

Fourte says Tuskegee Next has a connection with SIU.

“We do have many cadets that go to SIU and become part of our program, so we wanted to make sure that not only are we getting those students from SIU but we’re giving back to SIU by way of this donation today.”

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