Face masks to be distributed at Thursday census event

Listen to this article

Free face masks will be distributed Thursday at a 2020 census event in Richland County.

The masks will be distributed in packs of two on a first-come, first-served basis at a walk-up event at Gable Oaks Apartments at 901 Colleton St. Residents will also be able to complete the census at the final stop of the Cola City Census Joy Tour, to take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and feature music, food and prizes, according to a news release.

“Richland County sees the importance of utilizing community partnerships to ensure residents have access to resources and information that will help improve their lives,” Richland County Councilwoman Yvonne McBride said in the release. “This event allows us to give masks directly to residents while making sure they are counted in the 2020 census, which will impact the county for years to come.”

McBride represents District 3, which includes Gable Oaks in North Columbia.

The City of Columbia’s Complete Count Committee created the tour to increase census participation in hard-to-count areas.

The mask distribution is part of a larger effort by Richland County to distribute face coverings. The county recently acquired and packaged about 67,000 disposable masks, which are being given away at various locations.