Athlone African community group donates face masks to local area

The Athlone African community group has come together to donate homemade face masks to several community locations in Athlone.

As the lockdown restrictions were being eased, members of the group volunteered to design and tailor face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. The masks have so far been donated to Athlone Accommodation Centre, Dunning’s butchers on Connaught Street and Stella Maris nursing home.

The photo above shows Jean Cloud Van Dame of the Athlone African community group presenting face masks to Sean Dunning of Dunning's butchers.

Tomorrow (Friday), June 5, the group is planning to donate face masks to An Garda Síochána in support of their vital work in the community.

"Our goal is to help protect the Athlone community from the deadly coronavirus and build community spirit via our volunteer effort. Other organisations interested in the face masks may contact us," said Nai Lemoshira, Athlone African Community Group secretary.

Founded in January of this year, the Athlone African Community Group is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers.

Their objective is to bring the African community together and promote integration into Irish society. With a diverse membership, they aim to foster community spirit and encourage civic pride.