The Oregon Department of Agriculture distributed 90,000 KN95 masks and 280 cases of hand sanitizer to Hermiston and Ontario agriculture and farmworkers on Thursday, May 28 as part of a statewide personal protective equipment giveaway.

At the Hermiston site, growers arrived at the Department of Agriculture building on Feedville Road throughout the day to collect bags of boxes that each contained 10 masks and large bottles of hand sanitizer. Due to limited supply, farms were allowed a 10-mask box per employee, up to 300 masks.

Distribution of PPE statewide comes after Gov. Kate Brown announced $30 million will go into providing resources to agricultural and farmworkers in the state of Oregon in an effort to maintain occupational safety.

“PPE has been challenging for the public and some businesses to access,” Oregon Department of Agriculture Communications Director Andrea Cantu-Schomus said in an email. “Oregon Gov. Brown has been distributing PPE to many of Oregon’s sectors including long term care facilities and the agricultural community.”

Cantu-Schomus stated these resources are some of the best practices to help minimize the risk of contracting the virus.

“Oregon’s agricultural workers are on the frontlines during this COVID-19 crisis, working to provide food for Oregon families,” Cantu-Schomus said. “This investment provides critical resources to keep workers safe and mitigate COVID-19 outbreaks while protecting the food supply chain.”

Funding for PPE giveaways are coming from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security and the CARES, Act, which are a part of a $200 million COVID-19 aid package.

Cantu-Schomus said distribution throughout the state will continue through appointment only.