HOW TO HELP: Got masks or other protective equipment to donate?

| Coronavirus | How to help | West Seattle news

If you have extra personal protection equipment to donate so those on the COVID-19 pandemic front lines can be adequately protected – coordinated collection events are under way. Thanks to the readers who were first to spot both of these sites where you can sign up !

CITY OF SEATTLE SURVEY: Sign up here if you have something to donate. The form asks about:

Basic Isolation Masks
N95 Masks
P100 Masks
Surgical Masks
Eye wear
Disposable Gowns
Gloves

As explained here, donors who sign up there will be contacted for coordination of pickup or dropoff. Questions? PPEdonations@seattle.gov

UNION-LED EFFORT: Unopened boxes of masks (preferably N95), gowns, eye protection, and gloves are sought by this drive (or other medical equipment that might be offered) – read more and sign up here.

WSBReader March 20, 2020 (11:22 pm)

Can you let your readers know how we can help to support this Blog? I am sure I am not the only one in West Seattle that comes to rely on this blog for timely and important information.

Jethro Marx March 21, 2020 (8:18 am)

While I doubt the blog is interested in straight donations or gofundthee type of stuff, they stay in business through sponsors/advertising; get a group of neighbors or friends together and become a sponsor! Represent your neighborhood/frisbee team/dinner group/whatever! Make your cat a sponsor! Pay to post your cute baby pictures! This is not a news source that most neighborhoods are so fortunate as to have for their reading pleasure.

Katherine March 21, 2020 (12:59 pm)

Anyone know of a way for non-healthcare industry folks to donate gloves? I have an unopened 50 pack but it seems like this is geared towards vets, dentists, etc or for large donations.

songstorm March 21, 2020 (2:49 pm)

I sent in a notice to the Union-led survey and got a reply this morning, promising to be in touch shortly to arrange pick-up or a collection point drop-off. Understandably, they are prioritizing sites with larger donation materials first. I am wondering if we and other interested WS neighbors could consolidate our supplies to make it easier for the UFCW 21 and others to pick everything up in one spot. We would be happy to drive around the WS area and collect supplies from the porches of those who cannot/do not want to leave their houses. Please contact me at thornmist@yahoo.com.

JWinWS March 21, 2020 (1:31 pm)

A FB friend posted this morning that his wife was at Target at Westwood Village and they had a display of over 200 2-packs of N95 masks for sale. Limit one per customer. How can this be? Why aren’t these going to our healthcare institutions?

Tracy, any ideas about where to report this? Seems ludicrous!

WSB March 21, 2020 (2:36 pm)

That was flagged to us on Twitter and we re-amplified. I’m hopeful someone has at least emailed the city email address featured in the collection drive announcement. I wish we could go follow up but we’re trying to limit the number of places we go INTO, so most of our in-person coverage right now is happening outdoors, which doesn’t help here. Target has been flagged on Twitter and I’m sure other social-media channels as well, so I think a robust shaming campaign is under way if nothing else … TR
Stephen March 21, 2020 (3:30 pm)

Staff there took them down and boxed them up when they were told they could be used by medical staff. Person I talked to there said it was a genuine mistake and they’re working to donate them all to hospitals.
- WSB March 21, 2020 (3:37 pm)
  
  Thank you for that update. I hope that means there’s a corporate stock somewhere in a warehouse that also will be diverted!

Frontline caregiver March 21, 2020 (3:18 pm)

I am a front line caregiver trying my best to take care of you, your neighbor, your new baby, your family members. If I get sick, there is one less person to do that. The lack of masks and PPE in hospitals is frightening and I beg every citizen to ask your dentist office, veterinary office, construction workers, and anyone with extra N-95 masks or unused surgical masks to donate to Swedish or your local hospital. Please contact coviddonations@swedish.org to find out where to donate. I also ask you search your contacts and help our elected officials find companies to stop production on non essentials to start making masks and PPE. The health of our community depends on having healthy caregivers. We need your help, just as you need ours.