Old Lyme VNA Hands Out Around 3000 Masks to Lyme, Old Lyme Residents at Drive-Through Event

OLD LYME — “I think that this was the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association’s (OLVNA) first drive-through event, so we were a little worried going in, but then it came off without a hitch.” That was how OLVNA coordinator Holly Lyman summed up yesterday’s face mask distribution, which the organization held at Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

Asked how many masks the volunteers had handed out, Lyman replied by email, “We have not yet done a count, but we think we gave away 2500 to 3000 masks along with about 500 to 600 of LYSB’s wonderful resource cards.  We think we had about 500 to 600 cars come through the event.”

Saying that overall, “The event went very well,” she noted Lyme and Old Lyme residents had to show proof of residency to receive five free face masks per car. Drivers were directed by signage and volunteers to a pick-up station in the high school driveway curbside.

Lyman commented, “It was really fun working with different groups in the community.  We got brilliant support from LYSB [Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau], which helped pay for the masks, and also from Ledge Light Health District, Old Lyme Emergency Management, Lyme Social Services, Lyme Emergency Management, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Old Lyme Police and Rangers, and local representatives,” adding immediately, ” … and I hope I did not leave anyone out!”

Responding to a question as to why the OLVNA had organized the event, Lyman said in her email, “As Connecticut reopens, face masks are one of the ways for people to keep themselves safe and help keep the community safe from the coronavirus.  We wanted to make these masks as generally available as possible.”

Editor’s Note: We thank sincerely all those who made yesterday’s event possible, especially the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association,  which serves both Lyme and Old Lyme.