Elgin church to distribute masks to residents

New Life Covenant Church in Elgin is planning a drive-through distribution of about 4,000 face masks, plus milk and hand sanitizer.

The distribution will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16 in the church parking lot, 2250 W. Highland Ave. People will remain in their cars as volunteers wearing face masks and gloves distribute the goods, Pastor Abi Raices said.

"We want to give one pack of four masks per car, so right now we are aiming for 1,000 cars," he said.

Kane County Circuit Clerk Tom Hartwell said he is donating about 500 small bottles of hand sanitizer and state Sen. Jim Oberweis is donating 500 quarts of milk to the initiative.

New Life Covenant Church purchased 2,000 masks for a little more than $1 each, Raices said. About 1,000 masks were donated by a group of elected officials including Hartwell, and 500 masks were donated by Elgin Councilman Baldemar Lopez. Church member John Tyson plans to donate several hundred masks, Raices said.

Judson University, where Raices serves as a trustee, donated 250 masks, university spokeswoman Mary Dulabaum said. Some students and employees attend the church, she added. "When Pastor Raices invited Judson to participate in New Life Covenant's ministry, the university was in the process of ordering face masks for essential personnel to use now and in anticipation of the future reopening of campus as outlined through Gov. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plans," Dulabaum said.

The city of Elgin supports the church's initiative and will spread the word, city spokeswoman Molly Gillespie said.

Raices said he's grateful for the contributions. "I wish we could provide more," he said. "There is a ton of people that may not be able to find a mask."

Anyone who wants to donate to purchase more masks to be distributed by the church can go to givesendgo.com and search for "New Life Elgin Face Mask Fundraiser."