Several individuals, organizations and businesses are stepping up to help with donations to Greene County medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says they are accepting donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items, including facemasks-either cloth or N95-gowns and face shields. She notes they are distributing these items to the proper entities that need them. Wolf talks about how some groups are making face shields.

“The (Greene County) school system has been getting into making 3D printed face shields for us. John Deere (in Paton) is also making them and going to be donating them to our supplies so that we can re-distribute them and also use them here at the hospital. It’s been very heartwarming just to see all the different entities that are sharing with us.”

Greene County Medical Center Materials Management Director Dannelle McDowell says as of Wednesday they have received 549 handmade masks. She points out that they will continue to accept cloth mask donations, but they don’t have to have elastic straps.

“We know that some of those supplies are getting hard to find with the elastic and so forth. Anything that they can find at this point is gladly accepted. The (cloth) ties just make it a little more adjustable for people.”

Cloth mask donations are accepted between 1 and 3pm Tuesdays and Thursdays on the north side of the medical center. McDowell adds that they will also accept food donations for staff, but she asks that the food be prepared in a certified kitchen and it is individually wrapped. Those wanting to make PPE donations to public health can contact Wolf at 515-386-3228 to make arrangements.