A shortage of personal protective equipment and the lack of space to care for patients are among the top concerns for healthcare facilities combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, many healthcare professionals have been utilizing creative methods to continue safely treating patients. On April 18, 2020, in aid of healthcare professionals, BAPS Charities donated 9,000 pieces of personal protective equipment which included 3,000 surgical masks and 6,000 shoe covers to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA.
Michael Elliott, Chief Operating Officer of Valley Medical Center Foundation accepted the donation on behalf of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and informed BAPS Charities, “The shoe covers and masks will keep healthcare workers throughout the Santa Clara County safe during the COVID-19 crisis and we are most grateful for the support from BAPS Charities. This is a community effort to get through this difficult time. We have doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists going to work daily and putting their lives at risk to take care of all of us. For them, the donation of this material is both practically very helpful, but also it is a huge lift emotionally and spiritually to know that the community is behind us. On behalf of all of us, we thank you for your support. We hope you stay home and stay safe.”
BAPS Charities is grateful to its volunteers for helping to keep the community healthy. Beyond the recent donation, BAPS Charities has organized and implemented several online awareness campaigns for the community on how to stay healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers from locations throughout the world are assessing situations on how to help local communities.
