Working for Illinois Caucus

ALTON — To support the health and safety of first responders and health care workers, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is asking businesses, organizations, and individuals with unused personal protective equipment (PPE) donate it to their local medical centers.

“Every day, medical workers, including doctors, nurses, EMTS and other first responders across the country are risking their health in order to keep up with the extra stress coronavirus is putting on our hospitals and medical centers,” said Bristow. “We can get ahead of this problem in the Riverbend area by donating essential PPE products like N-95 masks, sterile gloves, and hand sanitizer.”

Sought items include N-95 masks, shortloop masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns, surgical gloves, face shields, goggles, and disinfectant wipes; a full list is online at https://ift.tt/2xDCAuO. All items should be in the manufacturer’s original packaging and unopened. Homemade and opened products cannot be accepted.

People wishing to donate should email ppe.donations@illinois.gov with the quantities of items they have, along with your address. After sending an email, donors will receive instructions and other logistics to ensure the products go to the location that needs it most.

“Now is the time for the community to come together and lift up those that are on the frontlines of tackling this public health crisis,” said Bristow. “I encourage anyone with these products not in use to help coordinate a donation to the brave first responders and health care workers risking their health to do their job and keep the public healthy.”

For other ways to help during the COVID-19 response, visit www.Serve.illinois.gov. For the most recent information about resources and information regarding COVID-19 in Illinois, visit https://ift.tt/3abA4uk or call the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931.