After several days of feeling distraught and fear for my fellow frontline team members due to the increased risk of everyone’s safety, Kathleen Penaflorida and I decided to take action so we began to brainstorm, “What could we do?” We, alone, can’t do much but there is strength is numbers. During a pandemic that literally effects every single person on this planet, the real question is “what could WE do? What can every single one of us do to make this situation less chaotic, less scary and prevent it from going on longer than it is already projected? The answer? Help each other. Katie and I, ask each and every one of you for your help by sharing our initiative or donating any PPE of any amount that you have. Frontline workers aren’t the only ones who can save people. You can save us. Many of us by sparing a mask so please spare a mask and save a life.

Our Goal:

I am going around New York City with a team of fellow frontline workers collecting donations and distributing them to hospitals to give our healthcare workers and many other lives a fighting chance. If you are able to donate masks, gloves, protective gowns, and/or surgical shoe covers of any quantity, please reply and we can set up a contactless pick-up to ensure everyone’s safety. If you’d like, I can give your business a “shout-out” through my personal social media platforms as a thank you for your generosity as well as updates will be posted on our @SpareaMaskSaveaLife account. Drop-offs to each hospital will also consist of a card with the name of the individual or business contributor making the impactful donation so everyone on the frontline will know who is standing with them through this crisis. 

Our Purpose:

We are reaching out to businesses and offices that may be closed at the moment due to PAUSE and COVID-19 asking for their assistance during this pressing time. Many New York City hospitals are currently facing a major shortage of protective equipment, especially face masks but all supplies are running low. On average hospitals are going through 20,000 masks a day!  Despite state authorities reporting an anticipation of an influx of supply, it is nowhere near enough and it is definitely not happening quickly enough for the frontline workers today. This is the same as soldiers going to war without body armor or firefighters running into a burning building without their protective suits. While the numbers for the U.S. are still pending, in Italy alone, 8.3% of their total infected cases are healthcare providers due to lack of protective equipment. Every day thousands of healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk to treat their patients who are suffering from this pandemic. As more healthcare providers become susceptible without the proper protective equipment and fall ill to COVID-19, the resulting effects will inevitably be the decline in the number of healthy healthcare providers being able to provide the proper care and treatment to the immeasurable and growing number of patients.

Your Part:

While we are doing our very best to take care of everyone’s loved ones, we cannot do it alone. I am here today to ask you for your help on behalf of all the frontline workers who are risking their lives every day to reduce the number of lives we lose from this pandemic. 

• What to donate (New or unused):
  • Disposable face masks with or without face shields
  • N95 masks, sometimes called respirators
  • Home-sewn reusable masks
  • Eye protection including face shields and safety goggles
  • Disposable gowns
  • Disposable gloves, especially non-latex
  • Disposable surgical caps
  • Disposable foot covers
  • Wipes: bleach or antimicrobial
  • Hand sanitizer
  • More specialized items:
    • PAPRs (powered air-purifying respirators) and PAPR hoods
    • Nasal testing swabs
    • Viral testing kits
• What NOT to donate:
  • 3-D printed ventilator parts
  • Medications, food, blankets, medical equipment or other supplies are not needed at this time. If that changes, you will be notified

Blood banks are also critically low and are asking for people to donate blood if they are able to safely commute to any blood bank centers near you.

Lastly, if you could also take a minute to sign these petitions supporting nurses in New York City and throughout the nation, we would truly appreciate it. 

Tell Governor Cuomo:  Implement NYSNA’s COVID-19 Surge Action Plan!

Tell Congress: We demand nurses are protected during COVID-19.

Every voice counts as does every mask. Please help us, help you. 

Sincerely,

Goldie Choi and Kathleen Penaflorida

Email: spareamasksavealife@gmail.com

IG: @spareamasksavealife