A Special E-News Message from Village President Catherine Adduci Regarding Stay at Home and Senior Citizen Response Program Reminders, Cloth Mask Guidance, Waste Disposal, and Support for Volunteer Groups

April, 14, 2020

A Special E-News Message from the Village President, Catherine Adduci

COVID-19 UPDATE

April 14, 2020

Dear River Forest Residents,

We need your help reaching all of River Forest - if you or someone you know does not receive Village of River Forest alerts and E-News to their email inbox or phone line, including cell phones, please sign up by visiting the Village website at vrf.us/alert. Help us keep River Forest informed.

River Forest Stays Home

The Stay at Home order remains in full effect through April 30, 2020. Please continue to do your part and support our #RiverForestStaysHome campaign. While we all hope that we can return to normal soon, it is important to remember that we must continue to adhere to the Stay at Home order through at least April 30, 2020. The Cook County data shows that the stay-at-home order, which took effect March 21, is doing its job to reduce transmission rates. Let’s continue to help our community, and the families in our surrounding communities, by staying home and saving lives.

Here’s what #RiverForestStaysHome means:

Do stay home
Do exercise in your home or work in your garden
Do read a book. Check out our library's digital books.
Do call and check in on friends, family and neighbors
Do essential tasks only if you need to (see grocery guidelines)
Do play River Forest Stays Home BINGO!
Don’t walk or exercise with groups - even if you are 6 feet apart
Don’t gather with others or allow a party in your home
Don’t play in the park. The PARKS AND ALL FIELDS are CLOSED.
Don’t have play dates and gather with other children or young adults

River Forest COVID-19 Senior Citizen Response Program

If you are a senior with an underlying health condition, stay home and avoid others. If you are a senior or an older adult needing services, such as grocery shopping or pharmacy pickup, please contact the River Forest COVID-19 Senior Citizen Response Program at 708-613-1642. We are here to help you.

Cloth Face Coverings

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) now recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, including all stores, post office, or pharmacies. In addition to practicing social distancing, cloth face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19. Individuals should wear a mask or face covering when they must leave their home.

If you are in need of a cloth face covering and unable to make your own, please contact the River Forest COVID-19 Senior Citizen Response Program at 708-613-1642 or rfseniorhelp@gmail.com.

Waste Disposal

Residents are asked to review the following information regarding waste disposal. Please do your part to keep River Forest clean and beautiful by taking a moment to dispose of your garbage safely and properly.

Please do not flush wipes or paper towels down the toilet. These materials clog sewer lines and could lead to backups.
Please dispose of medical equipment appropriately, by placing items directly into the garbage. Maintenance workers, particularly at shopping centers, are exposed unnecessarily when having to clean up medical litter.
Please remember that personal protective equipment such as plastic gloves, masks, and medical tubing cannot be put in the recycling bin at home.

For residents with refuse collected by Roy Strom Collection Company and billed by the Village, please click here and visit our website for what is allowable for pickup while we are under the Stay at Home order. Yard waste collection has begun.

Please Support Our Local Volunteer Groups

Finally, please support our local volunteer groups that are making masks, face shields, or gowns for our local hospitals and first responders. Let’s pitch in and help them where possible.

#RiverForestStaysHome

Sincerely,