Health foundation says financial donations needed right now
Hospital beds and ventilators are vital pieces of equipment needed by Niagara Health, followed by a need for personal protective equipment.
Niagara Health Foundation president and chief executive officer Roger Ali said the focus now is on the first two items.
“We’re asking the community to make a financial donation … to support the vital equipment that is needed,” said Ali.
He said Niagara residents can donate through a recently created website — supportnhf.com. The foundation is the charitable arm of the local hospitals system. “The reason we’re asking for financial donations right now is that we’ve had many fundraising events cancelled. Things like golf tournaments and other community events throughout the spring and into the summer.”
Ali said it’s understandable why events had to be cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some of those fundraisers raise anywhere between $1,000 and $20,000. They add up quite a bit and it’s hard to make up all those loses.
“Without that revenue, we aren’t able to fund the equipment needs that we’d normally be able to.”
Ali said there’s been a groundswell of support since launching the website.
“There are a lot of smaller donations coming in right now and that is helpful to us at this time. We have individuals that may not have donated before and there are our regular supporters that are continuing to donate and that speaks volumes.”
Ali said while financial donations help with needed big-tickets items, equipment not funded by the provincial government, the foundation still welcomes donations of personal protective equipment. Surgical masks would be welcome, as would other personal protective equipment.
Other items needed include N95 masks, face shields, eye protection, shoe covers, gloves, impermeable gowns and white Tyvek suits.
“We’re co-ordinating all of the donations … people can contact us when they want to donate something.”
As of last Wednesday, the foundation said, 8,868 N95 masks, 2,866 gowns, 1,411 face shields, 122,698 pairs of gloves and 13,135 procedure masks had been donated to the hospitals system.
Anyone with items to donate can email foundation@niagarahealth.on.ca.