Greene County General Hospital is like many others—experiencing a critical need of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to fight COVID-19. Staff are bravely fighting this illness with PPE, which is vital to the safety of their staff. Hospital officials have been worried about rising costs and supply shortages and in many cases PPE prices have increased due to the increased demand, but the hospital still needs it.
Director of the Greene County General Hospital Foundation, Stacy Burris, shared the need of PPE supplies with the Greene County Foundation, estimating the costs at approximately $21,000 for masks, gloves, gowns, etc. The Greene County Foundation recognized PPE as lifesaving and worked quickly to obtain funding. In response, they have established a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help in the community, and its first grant is being awarded to the hospital to purchase PPE and supplies for $10,500.
Additionally, Greene County Foundation staff has been working with United Way of Monroe County. The United Way COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund has granted $298,175 to 16 human service organizations providing critical services serving people in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties. With support from this Fund, these organizations can continue to provide life-changing services to members of our community affected by the pandemic. United Way of Monroe County quickly responded to GCGH’s need and awarded the remaining $10,500, through a grant, for the hospital to purchase critical PPE and supplies.
“United Way is grateful for the opportunity to work with the Greene County Foundation, which brings a depth of experience and knowledge of Greene County’s unique strengths and challenges,” shared Efrat Feferman, United Way of Monroe County Executive Director. “Our region’s generous individuals, businesses, local governments, and philanthropic foundations have all stepped up to the call for help. We’re truly all in this together.”
“The Greene County Foundation is proud to be working in parallel with United Way of Monroe County to address the emergent needs of local organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Executive Director Sherri Knieriem. “The Foundation is exploring many options to determine how we can best support our community, and we’re grateful that we can supply funds where they’re most needed.”