How to donate protective gear to Philadelphia-area health care providers

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As COVID-19 continues to spread, area hospital workers and first responders are in desperate need of protective gear, like face masks and gloves. They’re seeking donations, and — on a positive note — there's no shortage of neighbors helping neighbors during this crisis.

Malvern Preparatory School in Chester County donated boxes of much-sought personnel protective equipment, known as PPE, including N95 respirator masks. Volunteers gathered supplies from the school's art and science departments and the nurse’s office and donated them to the Malvern Police Department. 

The supplies were shared with other first responders and Paoli Hospital. 

“It is an opportunity for us to give back to a community that is giving so much of their time and talents,” said Dr. Jim Fry, director of student life at Malvern Prep, “a time away from their families, but also to help people who are literally on the frontlines of this global pandemic.”

Bob Burkholder, senior vice president of supply chain management at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said they’re looking for unopened, unexpired items.

“Looking for N95 respirator masks — we can take medical-grade or industrial-grade,” he said. “Need to be (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved. Surgical-grade earloop face masks or tieback masks; masks with face shields — we are really in short supply today.”

Jefferson Health has opened four locations at their hospitals — in Center City, Torresdale, Abington and Washington Township — for people to drop off supplies:

  • 233 S. 10th St., Center City
  • 10800 Knights Road, Northeast Philadelphia
  • 1235 Old York Road, Abington
  • 367 Hurffville-Crosskeys Road, Sewell, New Jersey

Many health care providers are looking for the following supplies:

  • Face masks
  • N95 respirator masks
  • Goggles
  • Face shields
  • Tyvek coveralls
  • Surgical gowns
  • Isolation gowns
  • Gloves

Other health systems in the region are accepting donations, like money or meals.

Although Jefferson Health has drop-off locations, many health systems are simply asking donors to contact organizers online or by email for specifics on how to donate: