The City of Florence Announces Formation of the “It’s Not Me, It’s We” – Florence Community Assistance Network (FLO-CAN). New committee to mitigate potential health and economic impacts of COVID-19
Florence, CO, March 19, 2020: To assist Florence residents who have been affected by COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, the City of Florence has announced the formation of the, FLO-CAN: “Florence Community Assistance Network,” an ad hoc committee that will assist city officials with the creation of short and long term plans to mitigate the potential health and economic impacts of the virus.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 is spread from person-to-person through close contact with an infected person who coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread when a person touches contaminated surfaces and then touches their mouth, nose and eyes. To date, Colorado has identified 216 cases statewide, but due to limited availability of testing kits, many suspect the number is much higher.
The City of Florence is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our citizens. That’s why we must be prepared. Through the creation of FLO-CAN, city staff can establish an open dialogue between various stakeholders in our community that will play a critical role in ensuring that we have the resources needed when and if the time comes.
With new guidelines from local, state and federal agencies being issued daily, and in some cases hourly, city staff is working diligently to stay up-to-date with evolving policies that impact our community and prepare that information for public distribution.
Members of the newly formed committee are actively reaching out to business owners, civic organizations, community leaders and others for input to develop a thoughtful strategy that prioritizes the needs of the elderly and those with health issues.
In the meantime, members of the committee are addressing recent shortages of essential items such as rubbing alcohol, sanitary wipes, hand soap and toilet paper by encouraging residents with an abundance of these items, that are sealed and unopened, to donate them to those in need. For convenience and to limit social interactions donation boxes are located at Two Sisters Restaurant, Cristelli Insurance Agency and Florence Brewing Company. The City of Florence will also accept donations this Friday, March 20, 2020 between the hours of 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM at City Hall located at 600 West 3rd St., Florence, Colorado 81226.
Items collected from each dropoff location will then be inventoried and redistributed the following week. The first scheduled distribution is Monday, 23, 2020 between the hours of 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. However, priority will be given to the elderly and those with health issues within the first hour. Remaining items will then be available on a first come, first served basis.
Members of the FLO-CAN will be meeting on a regular basis to monitor the situation and reassess their efforts.
For additional information, please contact Janelle Dodd at jdodd@florencecolorado.org or the FLO-CAN non-emergency resource line at 719-784-4848 x 229.
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City of Florence
600 West 3rd Street
Florence, Colorado 81226
(719) 784-4848