Brookings Health Accepting PPE Donations

  • March 25, 2020

To help maintain PPE supply during the COVID-19 epidemic, Brookings Health System is currently accepting PPE donations from the community, including sewn fabric surgical masks like the one pictured above. Brookings Health’s preferred surgical mask pattern for protecting health care workers has a double-layered cotton or cotton blend with a pocket to insert a filter and tie straps at the back instead of elastic.
To help maintain PPE supply during the COVID-19 epidemic, Brookings Health System is currently accepting PPE donations from the community, including sewn fabric surgical masks like the one pictured above. Brookings Health’s preferred surgical mask pattern for protecting health care workers has a double-layered cotton or cotton blend with a pocket to insert a filter and tie straps at the back instead of elastic.

Brookings Health System is currently accepting personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, including home sewn surgical masks.

“So many community members have reached out to us, asking us how they can help us through the coronavirus pandemic,” said Foundation Director Sara Schneider. “With the worldwide shortage of critical PPE caused by the pandemic, we need to make sure we maintain an adequate supply to care for our community.”

The health system is currently accepting donations of the following items in original, unopened packaging:

  • Latex free/nitrile gloves
  • Surgical masks
  • N95 respirators and N95 filters
  • PAPR 3M Versaflo TR-600 supplies / parts
  • Face shields
  • Eye protection
  • Gowns
  • Hand sanitizer

In addition, Brookings Health System is also accepting donations of home sewn gowns and fabric surgical masks. Brookings Health’s preferred surgical mask pattern for protecting health care workers has a double-layered cotton or cotton blend with a pocket to insert a filter and tie straps instead of elastic.

Jo-Ann Fabrics in Brookings is also providing free kits with materials to make masks. Brookings Health prefers these masks for patients. Customers can pick up kits curbside at Jo-Ann Fabrics, craft the masks at home, and drop off completed masks at the store. Masks will stay local within the community.

To donate PPE and schedule a drop-off time at the health system, please call the Foundation at (605) 696-8855. Community members who are wondering if the health system can use other items should email details of their idea to sjschneider@brookingshealth.org. Please include your name, phone number and email address.

The public can learn more about COVID-19 and what is being locally by healthcare providers at brookingshealth.org/COVID.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic & Optical, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency and extended care services. Brookings Hospital provides local access to doctors in Brookings and offers robotic da Vinci surgery and Mako robotic-arm assisted procedures, making it one of the premier rural community hospitals in South Dakota. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.