UNC Health is asking the community for donations of medical supplies as they prepare for more COVID-19 cases at their facilities.

N95 masks, surgical masks and nasal swabs are the highest priority supplies – but the system also needs basic materials like eye protection, face shields, disposable gloves and disinfectant.

This request comes as medical facilities and stores around the nation face shortages in even the most basic of supplies like rubber gloves and hand sanitizer.

These supplies make a huge difference as the amount of coronavirus cases in North Carolina continue to grow. Thankfully, some organizations have stepped up to help, including Durham Technical Community College.

To help alleviate the strain of shortages, Durham Tech dropped off donated materials to UNC Health’s Wellness Center at Meadowmont earlier this week.

Melissa Ockert was the leading force being the donation drop-off. She serves as the Dean of Health and Wellness at Durham Tech.

Ockert said UNC Health has always been an amazing clinical partner to Durham Tech, whether it be providing funds or supplies to their programs or hiring their students.

And now, she said it was time to return the favor.

“They donate to us when they can, they are so generous with their time and we were happy to do this for them,” Ockert said.

As Durham Tech joined the rest of the state in moving their classes online, they were also pulling together supplies they would no longer need for in-person classes. Health and Wellness faculty took turns gathering donations over the course of two days – staggering their staff to observe social distancing measures.

Ockert said that in-itself was no small feat, considering there was a lot of materials and a limited staff to gather them.

“We had sterile and non-sterile gloves, boxes and boxes and boxes of that, we had over 1,000 masks of various kinds, we had hundreds – I’d say well over a thousand – of disposable gowns,” Ockert said.

Ockert said the department also donated shoe covers and hand sanitizer. They donated anything they were able to – and they weren’t the only ones.

“While we were there we saw several cars pull in and the feedback that we got from the UNC employees that were receiving them [supplies] was that there had been an amazing outpouring of supplies,” Ockert said. “So that’s really gratifying that people are stepping up and willing to give what they have.”

Ockert said this collaboration between clinical and educational entities is so important, not just for the success of their students but also for the success of the local healthcare system as a whole.

“So just us being kind to one another and reaching out to one another and supporting one another in the ways that we can are going to be the way that we get through this together,” Ockert said.

To see the list of supplies still needed by UNC Health, visit their website.

(Lead photo courtesy of Durham Tech)

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