COMMUNITIES REALLY ‘STEP UP’ TO HELP HOSPITALS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — The community response for emergency cash and supplies to combat COVID-19 has been enormous at the Bracebridge and Huntsville hospital foundations.
In just 10 days since launching its Emergency Response Fund March 21, the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation (SMHF) has been overwhelmed with donations.
Foundation director Colin Miller said as of noon today, March 30, they had received more than $200,000 in online donations, pledges and promises.
He told MuskokaTODAY.com that includes $54,000 online and $150,000 more to come from residents, cottagers, businesses and service clubs.
A big chunk of those changes was $135,000 from five cottagers.
Then there are tons of donated supplies the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) facilities will need on a daily basis as the pandemic escalates in the weeks and months ahead.
Katharine Craine, the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (HHF) director, told us that they’ve told the hospitals to “ordered whatever they need and we’ll pay for it.”
(UPDATE) That means four new extra ventilators. MAHC now has 21 at its two sister sites.
And more ICU beds, she said.
Miller said at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital they’ve already committed to adding three more at a cost of $45,000 each.
Meanwhile, corporate and business “in kind” support has been tremendous, too, both directors say.
Masks, gloves, gowns … lots of items from dentists and veterinarians.
Many of them are the 3M N95 masks in short supply in many hospitals, along with the more commonly seen paper-like paper procedural masks.
They really “rose to the occasion,” said Craine.
Miller said people “have even offered to sew masks,” which he really appreciated.
However, he due to the transmission of microscopic particles they wouldn’t be as effective or meet high hospital standards
He added that all donations will be inspected for safety before being used.
Deerhurst Resort “really stepped up,” said Craine.
She said they donated “a ton of stuff” — including 4,000 N95 masks, which they’ve taken possession of and now have stored in their increasingly busy and crowded shipping and receiving department.
She said Deerhurst has a pandemic protocol and has had training.
So they had a lot of “PPE” (personal protective equipment) they donated, along with gloves and thermometers.
She said HHF received about $50,000 just in new public donations the past week because of the coronavirus concerns.
Craine keeps in contact with regular hospital donors and that some of the hospital foundation’s 52 “core partners” also “stepped up to the plate” in big ways.
Huntsville auto magnate Jason Armstrong donated 40 boxes of disposable gloves.
All unsolicited, officially.
Craine said HHF hasn’t even put out the call — that she said will happen next week.
“We just wanted to see what the needs are and what needs to be done,” as the pandemic evolves and expectedly grows.
Another heartening outcome for her is the number of people who have called or emailed wanting to volunteer their time and talents, despite the risk.
She has taken their names and can activate them as the need arises.
In addition to the money and supplies, both hospitals have set up food programs with local community donors in Huntsville providing “grab and go stuff” for staff.
At Bracebridge, MAHC has partnered with the South Muskoka Golf and Curling Club to provide a similar service.
And the District of Muskoka is looking into some kind of child care for essential workers.
For a full list hospital supplies needed, go to the MAHC website at
https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-your-organization-can-help-fight-coronavirus
To contribute to the Bracebridge foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, you can contribute online at www.healthmuskoka.ca; or contact director Miller at 705 645 4404 x 3193.
Craine and the HHF can be reached by phone at 705-789-4756 or email her at hhfoundation@mahc.ca
To arrange your donation and plan the hospital drop off, or if you have questions or need additional information, please leave your message at: SMMH: Amanda Brown via amanda.brown@mahc.ca or by phone at 705-645-4404, ext. 3193.
Or at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH): Cheryl Perry via cheryl.perry@mahc.ca or by phone at 705-789-2311, ext. 2372.
They will make arrangements for drop-off at the hospital, which is closed to the public and only open to patients.
For a full list hospital supplies needed, go to the MAHC website at
https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-your-organization-can-help-fight-coronavirus
Email Mark Clairmont at mark@muskokatoday.com
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