West Hawaii Community Health Center says the facility and its staff are in urgent need of donations to support its response to COVID-19.
The community health center is operating triage, testing, and care for patients daily, and has high need for personal protective equipment (PPE) that is currently in short supply.
The center is also involved in the drive-up testing scheduled for Monday at Old Kona Airport Park.
“Due to the limited quantities of supplies available from vendors, and the high volume of supplies needed to properly protect our community and health workers responding to COVID-19, West Hawaii Community Health Center requests community donations of N95 masks, any size gloves, hand sanitizer, paper towels, Lysol wipes, procedure/surgical masks, snacks, cold drinks and safety cones,” a press release read.
Supplies can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Kealakehe site located at 74-5214 Keanalehu Drive.
WHCHC requests donors call or email prior to donating, with no unplanned drop-offs “for your safety and that of our patients, as well as to respect our health care workers and not distract them from their very vital roles,” the press release reads. “We are strongly encouraging drop-off of donations at our Kealakehe location only to avoid community exposure and keep our Kuakini location, where our respiratory illness triage is located, clear for patients and health workers.”
The Kuakini location has been performing COVID-19 testing on their patients since March 12.
Businesses that would like to donate surplus supplies to the health center are asked to contact Natasha Ala at 938-1699 or email NAla@WestHawaiiCHC.org to arrange for pick-up.
“During this difficult time, our community is stronger when we stand together. Protecting our health care workers and the patients they serve will protect our community health as a whole,” said Ala through a statement.
WHCHC has four locations serving patients in West Hawaii.
Donations are tax-deductible.
