As you know, Governor Newsom has ordered all California residents to stay indoors to prevent the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19. Please be careful to keep yourself and your loved ones from becoming infected. We do know that basic hygiene such as washing hands, covering a cough, not touching our faces and staying away from others while sick reduce the chances of contracting or spreading the virus.
In addition, we have implemented a practice called “social distancing," which means staying at least 6 feet away from someone else if you do not have any protective equipment on, closing large gatherings, and encouraging work from home.
The Board of the Westside Community Council has been monitoring the situation here in the City of Ventura, specifically the Westside, and are receiving constant updates from our Major Matt LaVere regarding this outbreak.
The situation is ever evolving and the count of infected with the virus is rising in Ventura. It is imperative that us Westsiders heed the recommendation of our health professions and elected leaders, and STAY HOME with the exception of essential activities (e.g. grocery shopping, filling a prescription, going for a walk while practicing social distancing) until notified otherwise.
With that being said, local health professionals are asking for donations of N95 Masks and PAPR Hoods (white ventilator hoods). We are currently picking up old Thomas Fire N95's if you have any extra and delivering them to CMH, St. John's Hospital and VCMC.
If you have extra masks and would like to donate them to our health professionals, call or text WCC Chair James Forsythe at 805-698-3990. We can arrange to pick them up at your convenience.
We are also working with other local nonprofits to plan for life after Coronavirus. Many of our community members may be facing tough economic times due to layoffs, running out of funds to support and feed their families and who are unable to pay their bills.
The WCC, in conjunction with the Ventura Unified School District, has also raised over $650 to help fund school supplies for Westside students as they are homeschooled. These supplies will be handed out when students and parents pick up their meals at Sheridan Way Elementary from 11am to 1:30pm, Monday through Friday.
We must come together as a community and help each other out in our time of greatest need. The WCC will be planning for this eventuality and we need your help! If you would like to be a part of a COVID-19 Recovery Committee or just want to help, please email us at westsidecommunitycouncil@gmail.com and we'll be in contact with you soon.
Stay safe everyone! If you have any concerns or needs, please feel free to reach out!
Sincere Regards,
Chair James Forsythe and the Board of Directors
