Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner Carlos Ortiz (right) delivers face mask to an agricultural company in the Imperial Valley. Since May, the County Ag Commissioner’s Office has led the distribution of more than half a million masks to the ag community as part of a coordinated statewide effort.
Photo Courtesy of Imperial County

With agriculture recognized as an essential service, the Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has taken the lead in distributing more than half a million face masks to all sectors of the agricultural industry in the Valley since May and the efforts to provide the masks are continuing.

“This
was a positive result of the state understanding our need,” said Imperial
County Agricultural Commissioner Carlos Ortiz. “They heard us.”

The
distribution of face masks to the ag community was part of a joint statewide
effort of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association
together with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the
Department

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Pictured are from right to left Tracy Rascoe, Bob Candland and J. Rollins, the three members of the American Legion Boyce Aten Post 25 Disaster Preparedness Response Team. The committee of the El Centro-area American Legion Post has been working to help the community through programs targeting the COVID-19 pandemic and most recently has provided help to victims of the June 28 wildfire in Niland, along with posts throughout the Valley. In this photo, the three are pictured with the materials used for their campaign to prepare face masks for essential workers. Photo courtesy of Post 25.

When in the military, soldiers swear an oath to defend their
country, and they rely on each other through the toughest of times to live up
to that oath. When they return home to their communities, that oath doesn’t
just end—nor does the knowledge of what it takes to work together to get through
the most

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Andrew Triviso, a 4H member, delivers face coverings to the Calexico Fire Department recently. 4H youth from throughout the Imperial Valley prepared face coverings and mask kits as part of their leadership project. The youth in the program delivered the masks to first responders and essential workers around the Valley.
Photo courtesy 4H program

Fourteen-year-old Shelbee Rolfe of El Centro has been busy these last few weeks cutting fabric to form into face coverings and even went as far as to prepare a video to teach others how to prepare the masks following Center for Disease Control guidelines.

She’s not alone. Rolfe, a member of the Verde 4H Club, has teamed with
4H youth from throughout the Imperial Valley to prepare face coverings and face
covering kits in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic to help first responders
and others providing essential services.

Recently, the 4H youth delivered some 1,500 completed masks to first
responders

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