DCCC loans medical supplies to local health care facilities
In response to the urgent need for medical supplies and ventilators at area hospitals and health care facilities due to COVID-19, Delaware County Community College recently loaned a ventilator, and donated surgical gloves, disposable gowns, hand sanitizer, biohazard bags and other equipment and supplies to local hospitals and health care facilities in Delaware and Chester counties.
Faculty and staff from the college’s Allied Health, Emergency Services and Nursing Division collected medical supplies from the college’s Simulation Laboratories at the Exton Center and Marple campuses. The supplies were picked up March 25 by representatives from Delaware County’s Department of Emergency Services, which is arranging to share supplies with Chester County’s Department of Emergency Services. The college also loaned a ventilator to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, which partners with the college to provide training to students pursuing careers in respiratory therapy.
“We are seeking to do everything we can to help our health care professionals who are on the frontlines in this difficult, unprecedented fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. L. Joy Gates Black, president of Delaware County Community College.
Faye Meloy, dean of the Allied Health, Emergency Services and Nursing Division, along with staff and faculty collected available supplies from the college’s Exton Center and Marple Campus simulation labs.
Patti Curran, the college’s program director of respiratory therapy, who also is respiratory therapy director for Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, helped to prepare the ventilator for transport. Crozer picked up the ventilator on March 25, and was expected to have it available for patients in a matter of days.
Parents of ill children band together to acquire sponsors for CHOP masks
BennettStrong Foundation, in partnership with Victory 4 Vincent and Brave Gowns - a revolutionary organization that makes fun and inspirational hospital gowns for children - announce for the first time a program for community members to sponsor fabric protective masks to be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This unique partnership is a meaningful way that three organizations – all founded from personal experiences of caring for a child with medical complexities – are able to work with the community to give back and help relieve some of the pressure that the hospital staff is facing due to the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment that is required for the safety of CHOP staff and their young patients.
“Being a N/IICU parent myself, I know first-hand how dire it is for those caring for our loved ones to have the proper protection to effectively do so,” says Mary Pellegrino, cofounder of the BennettStrong Foundation. “In a time that protective equipment is devastatingly scarce, we’re proud to be able to do our part to help
CHOP continue to take care of our little fighters.”
“The CHOP team has become a second family to my son Vincent and when I heard they were facing a shortage of protective equipment, I knew we had to do something to help,” says Natalie Nowroozi of Prospect Park, mother of Victory 4 Vincent’s namesake. “These masks not only serve a purpose medically but also bring hope and inspiration to the hospital during a time that is difficult for so many.”
“There is a severe shortage of masks for our health care workers during this pandemic and by creating these masks it’s a way for us to do our part to help provide the staff on the frontlines with the protection they need to keep themselves safe,” says Summer Germann, CEO of Brave Gowns holding company, Summer IN LA, LLC. “We want to do our part to make sure that the staff at CHOP has access to the supplies they need to keep effectively doing their jobs.”
Each mask costs $9 to sponsor and are made with an antimicrobial fabric that is safe for both patients and doctors and are reusable and machine washable. They are created with the help of an industrial designer, engineers, fabric specialists and experts in the manufacturing industry.
“We have had a incredible response to our plea, with 1,200 masks sponsored so far,” Nowroozi said. To sponsor a mask and learn more information, visit https://www. bravegowns.com/collections/masks/products/ sponsor-a-mask-for-chop.
Local photographer brings smiles to quarantined Ridley residents
Ridley Township photographer Jennifer Kearney is doing something fun for quarantined Ridley residents with her Ridley Picture Project. She’s doing it simply to put a smile onto people’s faces during these trying times.
Once a resident requests the free photo shoot, Kearney comes outside of Ridley residents’ homes, near their curb or another safe distance, and takes a photo of them near their front door. She then posts the photos on her Facebook page, creating a fun album to look through, as well as preserving memories of this historic time. She chooses days with good weather.
Ridley residents who wish to participate and have their photo taken, can text their name and address to Kearney at 610368-0186. To check out pictures so far, go to Facebook and search #ridleypictureproject and all the photos should appear. For more information on Kearney’s photography, visit www. jenniferkearneyphotography.com.
Drapery company sews masks for public and health care community
Jennifer Assetto, owner of In the Fringe, 1306 A Edgewood Road, Havertown, is offering a deal to keep her employees working and help out the public. For every protective mask that people purchase for $10, In the Fringe will donate a complimentary mask to the local medical community or the vulnerable population. The Havertown drapery design studio changed gears from their regular work and began producting the quality protective masks when they realized how overwhelming the need has been.
“I believe in people helping each other and know that it is the only way we will all get through this and be better for it,” Assetto said.
For more information on obtaining some masks, email or call Assetto at 610-213-2262 or jennifer@ inthefringe.com.