1. Make medical masks from home for hospitals, emergency rooms, food pantry volunteers, etc. For more info on types needed, patterns, etc. visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/SWMI.MedMaskProject/?tn-str=*F Masks can be dropped off at both, Borgess and Bronson Hospitals, and other agency needs are posted on SWMI Med Mask Project FB page.
2. Hospitals are in need of Personal Protective Equipment Donations REQUESTED DONATIONS: 1. Disposable face masks 2. N-95 masks, sometimes called respirators 3. Eye protection, including face shields and safety goggles 4. Disposable gowns 5. Disposable gloves, especially non-latex 6. Disposable surgical caps 7. Disposable foot covers 8. Wipes: bleach or antimicrobial 9. Hand sanitizer 10. Bleach
Additionally, Bronson is accepting home-sewn face masks. These will be used by staff in appropriate areas to help protect staff and conserve the supply of PPE. Recommendations for materials and patterns are available at bronsonhealth.com/coronavirus-covid-19.
Bronson is also accepting specialized medical equipment items, including: PAPRs (powered air-purifying respirators) and PAPR hoods, nasal testing swabs, and viral testing kits.
All donations must be dropped off in-person. Items that list expiration dates must be unexpired. It is essential that nobody involved in the creation, distribution or delivery of new/unused materials or homemade masks have any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) or have recently been exposed to anyone experiencing these symptoms or who has been tested positive for COVID-19.
Bronson is not able to accept the following items: medication, blankets, toys, clothing or other medical supplies.
Bronson will be collecting the acceptable new/unused items from businesses, organizations and community members at the following five locations Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: - Kalamazoo: Bronson FastCare®, 6220 W. Main St. - Portage: Bronson Diagnostics at Woodbridge, 2640 W. Centre St. - Battle Creek: Bronson Urology Specialists, 4441 Capital Avenue Southwest - Paw Paw: Bronson LakeView Outpatient Center, 451 Health Parkway - South Haven: Bronson Family Medicine, 930 Blue Star Highway
Anyone with questions or needing additional information, please contact Josh Fitzgibbon, Community Activities Branch Director, at fitzgibj@bronsonhg.org.
3. Volunteer for Organizations Providing Essential Services 1. Kalamazoo Gospel Mission (KGM) KGM is an essential service and they have seen an increase in the number of people coming in for meals due to so many folks who had temporary employment at restaurants or factories now being unemployed, so the need is greater than ever. A. Volunteers 1. The KGM kitchen is open 6am-7pm, and most of the shifts revolve around meals. Breakfast shift is roughly 5:45am-7:45am, Lunch is 11am-1pm, and Dinner is 4pm-6pm. Due to limited space volunteers are capped at 10 people per meal, and if someone wants to come in between meal times and help clean and prepare food, that’s more than fine. 2. A daycare program for infants and toddlers and a program for our elementary and middle school children. Each area has a morning session from roughly 8am-11am, and an afternoon session from 12:30pm-3:30pm. There is limited space in the kid’s areas, so volunteers are limited to 2-3 people per shift for each group. 3. Kitchen 4. Children’s Programs To volunteer, contact Matt Furrow at Volunteer@kzoogospel.org, or 269-245-2974 ext. 203
B. Donations: 1. Hand sanitizer 2. Sanitizing spray/wipes 3. Paper towels 4. Tissues 5. Toilet paper 6. To-go boxes for meals (need because of having to limit how many people can sit in the cafeteria at one time). *Anyone interested is welcome to purchase these items online and ship them directly to KGM if they don’t feel comfortable leaving home. Financial donations can also be made through the KGM website or by clicking here: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E5802&id=1
2. Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes (KLF) KLF is distributing boxes of food out of their main location, delivering food to Senior Housing, and are also serving as Kalamazoo County’s Emergency Food Services for multiple Agencies.
3. 12 Baskets 12 Baskets will continue to distribute food on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month from 8:30am – 12:00pm and the 1st and 3rd Fridays each month from 4:00pm - 7:00pm, at their Portage Road location via drive-up. https://twelve-baskets.org/ Donate funds online at https://twelve-baskets.org/index.php/donations/
4. Red Cross Red Cross is working to quickly identify and replace blood drives canceled due to workplace and school closures. Search below for opportunities near you and check back often as they are continuously adding new donation opportunities. Right now, eligible and healthy donors are urged to make an appointment to provide lifesaving blood products to patients.
5. Ministry With Community Ministry with Community is open for the homeless population seven days a week with current hours of 6:30am-11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. At this time they are not looking for volunteers to serve meals and are limiting the building occupancy to 45 people. Sack lunches are being provided for those seeking meals. They are closed for cleaning between 11:00a.m. - 12:00pm. Showers, laundry, and mail service are still available for those in need.
2. Donations - Individually wrapped snacks such as granola bars, breakfast bars, cracker sandwiches (such as the six pack packages you get at Sams or Meijer) - Individually wrapped snacks - Peanut butter - Bread *Donations can be dropped off at the Ransom St dock entrance. Visitors can ring the doorbell at that entrance and someone will be available to take donations.
6. Senior Services Senior Services is looking for volunteers to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels in the Kalamazoo area with a larger need in the Battle Creek and Albion area. There are nine routes in the Kalamazoo area. Volunteers are needed starting at 10:15 a.m. for 1.5-2 hours. Eighteen volunteers are needed in the Kalamazoo area each day Monday through Friday. *Volunteers must fill out an application and provide a copy of their driver's license before volunteering. https://seniorservices1.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Senior-Services-Volunteer-Application-Adult-March-2019.pdf For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Tracie Wheeler at (269) 382-0515 , ext 137
7. Salvation Army In this time of crisis, you can help The Salvation Army help those affected by COVID-19. The Salvation Army are there for the most vulnerable in our community. Those whose wages are gone, those who need food, and so many others who desperately need help and hope. We need your help now more than ever. If you are able, please give online today! https://donate.sawmni.org/give/194254/…
8. United Way Disaster Relief Fund The Disaster Relief Fund aims to ensure resources for planning in times of stability and for recovery when disaster strikes. Dollars are directed to 501c3 organizations for use that may include direct services, coordination of relief efforts, coordination of disaster relief volunteers, and costs related to building and sustaining disaster relief infrastructure. The current COVID-19 crisis is having widespread impact on families, students, employees, businesses and schools, and the Disaster Relief Fund has been activated in order to address emerging needs related to the outbreak. Emergency response consortiums in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo are meeting by teleconference regularly to quickly identify needs and inform decisions on where to direct funds. These groups include United Way staff, 2-1-1 staff, nonprofit leaders, government, school and city officials. All dollars raised through UW’s Disaster Relief Fund remain local. Note: Guided by our team of experts and their collaborative efforts with area organizations, your gift is automatically applied where it's needed most in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo region. If you wish to limit your dollars to a geographic region, you may do so by checking a box during the donation process. To donate, visit: https://portal.gkuw.org/comm/SinglePageRegPledge.jsp?EnvelopeKeyHex=4738314E25555E3D5A234E5432736330283F67407E3E&DA=1979483
b. If you’re going to the store, call an elderly or high risk family member or neighbor and offer to pick up groceries and essential needs items for them.
c. Send an encouraging voicemail, email, or social media message to”essential employees”; healthcare workers, civil service employees, delivery drivers, first responders, military personnel, etc.
d. Have a couple pizzas delivered to your neighborhood police/fire department, single mom, elderly neighbor, etc. (Don’t forget to add the tip!)
e. Be thoughtful of others, don’t hoard food and other necessities, we’re all in this together!