Coronavirus: Help Your Local Hospital With Supplies

Metro Detroit Hospitals Need Supplies
Photo credit Getty Images

Hospitals in southeast Michigan are asking for help from the public as the new coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the state.

Officials with Beaumont Health, Henry Ford Health Systems, St. Joe's Mercy and the University of Michigan Medicine are seeking donations of new and unused medical supplies in order to help protect staff and patients during the pandemic.

The number of coronavirus cases rose sharply over the last week, with health officials announcing nearly 800 total cases statewide on Saturday, with eight deaths due to the virus.

Donations can be made at the following locations:

  • St. Joseph Mercy Oakland -- 4455 Woodward Ave, Pontiac
  • Henry Ford Health System's corporate offices -- 1 Ford Place, Detroit
  • Beaumont Service Center -- 26901 Beaumont Blvd, Southfield 
  • Beaumont -- 41965 Ecorse Rd, Van Buren Twp
  • Michigan Medicine -- North Campus Research Complex -- 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor

Most-Needed Personal Protective Equipment: 

  • New or unused disposable face masks
  • N-95 mask (sometimes called respirators) 
  • Eye protection including face shields and safety goggles
  • Disposable gowns
  • Disposable gloves (especially non-latex)
  • Disposable surgical caps
  • Disposable foot covers
  • Wipes: bleach or anti-microbial
  • Hand-sanitizer
  • Specialized items 
  • PAPRs (powered air purifying respirators) and PAPR hoods
  • Nasal testing swabs
  • Viral testing kits

Henry Ford is accepting donations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. until further notice. Michigan Medicine will accept donations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on the weekends.

Beaumont has two easy drop off locations that are self-drop and touch-free – in Southfield and VanBuren Twp.  Addresses above and hours are on their website.

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is accepting donations between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Henry Ford is accepting donations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. until further notice. Michigan Medicine will accept donations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on the weekends. Beaumont says it is accepting donations any time.

While health officials say these items may be accepted down the road, there are some items that should not be donated:

Home-sewn reusable masks

3-D printed ventilator parts

Medications

Food

Blankets

Medical equipment or other supplies  

A spokesperson with Michigan Medicine says their first day of donations on Saturday saw a lot of traffic -- 224 cars, two people on bikes and five people on foot came by to drop off supplies.