Isaac Levine, a third-year medical student who was pulled off his clinical rotation when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place, found himself with free time and wanted to do something to help those on the front lines. He joined forces with fellow students Abby Gross and Daniel Li to address the shortage of personal-protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves, in local hospitals. They developed a plan modeled on a program already under way at Georgetown University and soon started MedSupplyDrive@cwru. They are also responding to the call for volunteers to make face masks for Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.
So far, more than 50 students have volunteered and teams have assembled to do a variety of tasks:
- List makers created a spreadsheet of 280 businesses which might have available PPE: veterinarians, dentists, orthodontists, outpatient surgery centers, industrial, commercial and residential cleaning companies. Tattoo studios and nail salons also made the list.
- Volunteers divided the list and contacted businesses to ask if they would be willing to donate supplies to local hospitals.
- When a business confirms a donation, volunteer drivers pick up the PPE and deliver it to a central drop-off point in Cleveland for transport to area medical centers.
The team is also seeking volunteers of all skill sets to make face masks. Coordinators are gathering supplies and will provide instructions and materials so that masks can be made from home. Volunteers can complete a form to join the effort.
Know of a business that might have PPE to donate? Interested in volunteering? Send an email with your name, contact information, and, if applicable, business name and a description of the supplies available to donate to medsupplydrive.cwru@gmail.com.
Learn more about the students’ efforts and get details on volunteering, getting help and donating.