Multiple departments donate amid coronavirus-related shortages

Update | Tuesday, March 31, 2020

As the nation’s medical community remains desperate in the scramble to find personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, Columbus State is pitching in. On Tuesday, March 24, the College donated more than 15,000 gloves and hundreds of medical gowns and safety glasses.

Marty Maliwesky, associate vice president of Academic Affairs, used his personal van (pictured above right with Officer Jonnathan Sanchez) to pick up the supplies at the Columbus Campus and deliver them to Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS). That agency distributes the supplies to hospitals and first responders.

The effort to collect the supplies began last week and included multiple departments. Michael Bailey, interim chair of Biological & Physical Sciences, and Coordinator Chris Keller had heard about the supply shortage and checked on their stock. They determined there was enough to make a difference.

Allysen Todd, dean over the Biological and Physical Sciences Department, determined there would be an acceptable number of PPEs to donate while leaving a few on campus until new supplies can be obtained after the coronavirus quarantines are lifted. Kirk Dickerson, interim dean of Health & Human Services, connected with Nursing Chair April Martin and collected additional items.

In Hospitality Management, Director Josh Wickham collected 10,000 gloves that would typically be used for culinary classes. Again, with no students on campus, most of those were donated as well.

The Columbus State Police Department helped Maliwesky collect the items in storage areas in Mitchell and Union halls so they could be delivered to FCEM&HS in Columbus. The agency is only allowed to accept unopened packages. Since some of the items collected on campus were already open, those will be used by Facilities Management and the Police Department.

If you know anyone who would like to donate to FCEMC&HS, information is at this link.

The donation was also mentioned very briefly as part of a coronavirus update in Columbus Underground. The College donation is featured in the Giving Back section. Read it here.
 

 

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