Chatham-Kent is establishing a drop-off station for donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for front line healthcare staff.
“During a conversation with our health partners, we were told of the need to maximize the amount of PPE,” stated Mayor Darrin Canniff, in a press release.
“We want to ensure that our health care staff have the equipment they need to do their jobs and save lives so we are asking that Chatham-Kent residents who may have these items or owners of businesses who have them and are not deemed essential, pitch in and help.”
The municipality’s drop off station will open at Thames Campus Arena on Wednesday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Initial plans are to operate the station at that time each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Mayor Canniff said there is no specific goal in mind for the effort.
“We know CK residents have always been generous,” Canniff said.
“We don’t know what resources exist in the community but we do know that we need the items at this critical time.”
The donation procedure uses social distancing, Municipal officials say.
Donors are asked to bring their material inside main front doors of the arena, place the donation on the table located in the ticket area and exit the building.
Staff will then take the donation, sort and store it for three days before passing it on to be distributed in the health care system through usual protocols, Municipal officials stated.
A staff member must receive the donation.
Any donations left outside at the building will be discarded due to unknown contamination.
Product donated cannot be used or expired and opened boxes or packages will not be accepted.
Needed equipment includes:
– N-95 masks
– Surgical face masks
– Ddisposable gloves
– Medical goggles
– Face shields
– Hand sanitizer
– Cloth face masks
Further details on the equipment needed and how you can help can be found, here.
Both large and small donations are appreciated.
The equipment will be inventoried and used in hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes, home care, hospices and other organizations to assist with urgent needs, Municipal officials stated.
For further information, please contact the municipality at 519-360-1998.
