SANDUSKY COUNTY, Ohio — A small grant is expected to make a big difference in the fight against COVID-19 in Sandusky County.
The Sandusky County Senior Center in Fremont has a new tool to minimize the impact of COVID-19.
A small grant of just under $3,000 from the United Way of Sandusky County allowed the center to purchase a temperature-detection camera to install in its entryway.
A camera is a hands-free tool that can record a person's temperature from within 4 feet away and can also see if the person is wearing a mask.
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"It's just, the more we can eliminate that contact, it's amazing the number of contact points. You don't realize the number of contact points you have with people in a day until you start trying to mitigate that," said Robin Richter, director of senior services at the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
The goal is to ensure the safety of the people who are at the highest risk of complications from coronavirus.
The funding came from the United Way's COVID-19 relief fund that has also been helping people being negatively impacted financially and psychologically from the virus as well.
"And I would anticipate once the unemployment dollars, the extra unemployment dollars run out here in July, we'll see an increased need in our basic needs services like rent and utilities and whatnot," United Way of Sandusky County Executive Director Abby Aldrich said.
With the Sandusky County Senior Center still not able to welcome guests into its building, leaders there have had to find different ways to continue serving the county's elderly population.
Along with hosting the Meals on Wheels program as a drive-thru pickup event, they are also spreading the word about their Summer Crisis Program.
Anyone who is 60 years or older can apply to get a free air conditioner installed in their home if they have a confirmed medical condition that requires cooling assistance.
"Then they can receive and air conditioner from this program. And on top of that, because of the linkage with our senior services, we will go out and have that installed for them," Richter said.
And you can help as well. The Great Lakes Community Action Partnership is also opening its doors to box fan donations.
That way they can still help people stay cool in their homes, even if they don't have a dire medical condition.
"We don't have a huge need for those, but there are occasionally folks that don't want air conditioning or it's not good for them and they just need a box fan," Richter said.
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