Kevin Mole, NYSUT board member, is pictured with masks Kevin Mole delivered recently with Brad Anderson, Jamestown resident and The Resource Center United Employees Association co-president.

Union officers and members of The Resource Center United Employees Association received surgical-grade protective face masks from their affiliate, the New York State United Teachers or NYSUT recently to ensure that union members keep themselves and the disabled population of Chautauqua County safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Resource Center is a not-for-profit agency in that provides essential residential, support and healthcare services to disabled people across the county. TRCUEA represents a wide range of employees at The Resource Center, including direct support personnel, physical- and occupational-therapists, licensed practical nurses, and various maintenance and transportation personnel. TRCUEA is an affiliate of NYSUT.

“It’s good to have a supply of protective masks as a back-up to those that the employer provides us,” said Shelly Williamson, a resident of Dunkirk and one of the co-presidents of TRCUEA. The employer does provide protective gear, including masks, but the union wanted to be extra careful in order to protect its members as well as the population that The Resource Center serves. “You simply can’t be too prepared,” remarked Jamestown resident and co-president Brad Anderson, “and NYSUT’s supply to us will make sure that every union member is as safe as possible, and is able to keep the people we serve safe as well.”

Health experts recommend the use of protective gear such as face masks, not only to protect the person wearing the mask from contracting COVID-19, but also keep surrounding people safe from the person wearing the mask, as it also limits the ability of the wearer to spread the virus to surrounding people.

“We are very thankful for NYSUT for supplying the masks,” Williamson said.

Shelly Williamson, a Dunkirk resident and The Resource Center United Employees Association co-president, is pictured with Kevin Mole, NYSUT board member, with masks Mole delivered recently.

The masks were delivered by Scio resident Kevin Mole, who is a member of the NYSUT Board of Directors.

“NYSUT is doing its best to help not only its own members, but also members of the community across New York State, as we are dealing with this outbreak,” Mole said. “We are glad to be of service to Chautauqua County, and stand ready to provide additional services in an effort to keep people safe through this crisis.”