​We are working diligently to keep our community and our employees as safe as possible. As we've heard from our public health agencies, the best way to reduce the spread of the virus is to stay home, and to practice social distancing when we must go out. This week, we all received new guidance from the CDC on how to protect each other from further spread of the virus by wearing cloth masks.

We need your help to supply much-needed homemade cloth masks to help keep our community safe and slow the spread of the Coronavirus. All masks will be donated to our local area non-profits and social service organizations. If you have the time and the supplies at home, here are the CDC's instructions for homemade masks.

We'll be collecting masks at drop off locations April 15, April 16 and April 17 between 10 am and 2 pm. Drop off locations will be set up so that you can pull through and drop off your donation from a safe social distance:

North and East: State Fairgrounds (please enter at Silverton Road NE/Lana Ave NE)

South: Woodmansee Park (please enter at Sunnyside Road SE/Keglers Lane)

West: West Salem Library (please enter parking lot behind Roth's off Glen Creek, proceed north to Taybin NW)

Our City will continue to provide emergency response, public safety and other essential services, including water service to all customers. To do our part in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce opportunities for continued transmission of the virus, we've made changes to some of our programs and services. Keep up to date on the latest changes on our website.

Because of the work we do, you will still see City workers in our community, providing much-needed City services. You can help keep yourself and City workers safe from COVID-19. As a reminder, if you want to express your appreciation, please maintain the 6-foot required social distance when you do. Try a wave from a distance or a shouted "Thanks' from across the way. They'll appreciate your concern for their safety and that of their families. And you'll all be safer, too.

We are all in this together. Please stay home, save lives.