Goodwill sets up family relief fund
The Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana has announced the creation of an emergency fund to provide critical support for the most immediate needs of the thousands of employees, students and families served by Goodwill.
Donors can contribute to the fund at goodwillindy.org/donatenow. The Goodwill Foundation will match donations to the Emergency Fund, $2 for every $1 donated, up to $500,000 in matching funds.
Goodwill closed its retail stores to shoppers on Friday, March 20, in response to the growing concern over the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of retail sales revenue has placed unprecedented strain on the organization’s resources, halting its ability to provide much-needed relief to the thousands of Hoosiers it serves. Many of them are among central and southern Indiana’s most vulnerable, including employees with disabilities, low-income families and others.
Tips on keeping your vehicle sanitized
The spread of the novel coronavirus is made worse because it is highly contagious. Since vehicle interiors are essentially small contained spaces, it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of contracting the virus while driving or riding inside.
When it comes to vehicles, washing your hands thoroughly is one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission of the virus, which is spread from small droplets from the nose or mouth when an infected person coughs, sneezes or exhales.
But proper cleaning and disinfecting are also advised. That’s because the virus can exist on a variety of surfaces, sometimes even days after contagious droplets were planted there. Here are some tips from experts at Edmunds, an online resource for automotive information:
Be Prepared
While it’s important that the inside of your vehicle is clean, it’s just as important that your hands are free of germs too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands for at least 20 seconds before or after eating, using the restroom, coughing or sneezing, caring for others, and leaving your house.
Cleaning your vehicle should also be on the list. It may also be a good idea to use disposable or designated gloves while cleaning to prevent the spread of the coronavirus inside.
Use The Right Tools
The right disinfectants can kill the coronavirus so that it doesn’t live on surfaces such as rubber, plastic, aluminum and leather. Most common household cleaners will work. Check to ensure that the cleaners you’re using are safe for the surfaces in your car.
Focus On Touchpoints
The main areas that need to be cleaned are obvious. Anything inside the car that your fingers touch should be cleaned: the steering wheel, gear shifter, lane change and windshield wiper stalks, door handles, radio knobs, infotainment controllers, storage bins and seat belts. The CDC recommends cleaning touched surfaces daily.
One other area might not be so immediately evident: The top of the dashboard is a prime spot for harboring such microorganisms, according to Charles P. Gerba, a professor of microbiology and public health at the University of Arizona. Recirculating air swirls up against the windshield and sticks to the dash, where it can be distributed throughout the cabin, Gerba said. Cleaning that spot reduces risk.
Clean, Repeat
Maintaining cleanliness in your car is a small act that can go a long way toward the greater good. If you are going to take trips outside, do everything you can to slow or prevent the transmission of the coronavirus. Disinfecting your steering wheel over and over again might seem tedious and unnecessary, but it can limit contamination.
