Park Lawn In Need of PPE, Sanitizing Product Donations

OAK LAWN, IL – Community members who have an overabundance of personal protective equipment or sanitizing products, or are willing to pick up items while they are out shopping are asked to donate items to Park Lawn in order to support and protect their staff and participants.

Park Lawn is a non-profit organization that offers programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to promote independence, choice and access to community living. The organization has over 200 staff and 550 participants.

As staff members work to support the community's most medically fragile individuals, they are asking for donations of supplies including:

• Hand sanitizers
• N95 face masks
• Surgical hair covers
• Surgical shoe covers
• Latex gloves
• Cleaning/disinfectant wipes
• Face shields
• Goggles/safety glasses
• Spray bottles (must be clean and free of any chemicals)

With new protocols in place, the staff is stepping up to provide quality care every day. Program participants interact with staff and each other through Zoom, Face Time or Skype. Theme days and activities that can be done at home are suggested and encouraged to keep participants engaged with staff and each other.

"We are truly fortunate for the staff who works for Park Lawn and for their belief in our mission," said Mark Dynia, Marketing Manager at Park Lawn. 'We could not get through these uncertain times without them."

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The largest impact Park Lawn is currently facing is the inability to provide community-based programs such as employment and volunteer programs. Another significant impact is the cancellation of fundraising programs and events, which has far-reaching consequences.

"Our first priority is to care for all the individuals in our program and to go about our everyday business with as much normalcy as possible," Dynia said. "Now more than ever we rely on our community for their support."

The community has shown their support, Dynia said, and Park Lawn is very grateful for it. For example, The Community Mask Initiative from St. Gerald’s Women’s Club has provided face masks and Koval Distillery has donated hand sanitizer.

"The community, friends, families, staff, volunteers and donors have gone above and beyond to answer our call for help," he said. "Each time we post or request monetary donations or PPE items, there is an overwhelming, positive response. But we need so much more."

Those who wish to make a donation of the above items can deliver the items to the lower dock of Park Lawn Services at 5040 W. 111th Street, Oak Lawn, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.