Health officials insist the best way to help doctors and nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak is to follow social distancing and the safer-at-home order, but some Rock County residents want to do more to support local healthcare workers.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital President Eric Thornton said his staff will accept almost any donations the community wants to provide.
“The only thing we can’t accept at this point is any items that are used or soiled,” Thornton said. “So we don’t used gowns or used masks, but at this point, we haven’t been presented with anything we haven’t been interested in.”
Thornton said his hospital has enough personal protective equipment for their short term needs, but they will gladly accept more masks, gloves, sanitizers and disinfectants with no clear end in sight for the pandemic.
Both SSM Health and Mercyhealth are accepting homemade masks, which go to caregivers not working directly with patients.
“People have been just wonderfully generous, and it’s been really heartwarming,” Thornton said.
Anyone interested in donating food or meals to local hospital staffs should call or email in advance so they can plan ahead and maximize its benefit.
Thornton said nurses and doctors really appreciate words of encouragement during these critical times. If families want to send cards or other positive notes, they should be mailed to the attention of Erica Mathis at St. Mary’s hospital address of 3400 East Racine Street in Janesville.
Other questions or ideas for donations can be emailed to the hospital’s local foundation at Foundation.Janesville@SSMHealth.com
