Masks for Florida Frontline Medical Workers
Donation protected
Situation: There are not enough masks and other critical supplies for frontline medical workers in North Central Florida.
The coronavirus is in North Central Florida. There are not enough supplies to protect healthcare workers and national stocks are dwindling. As the virus spreads, we need to protect frontline medical workers from becoming ill from COVID-19.
Our friends and family members work as nurses and doctors at hospitals in North Central Florida and they have confirmed that there is a shortage of masks for healthcare workers.
UF Health Shands Hospital has confirmed that medical masks can be donated there for distribution to their healthcare staff. We are working on donations to other places that employ frontline medical workers.
All donations go directly to purchasing masks to donate to hospitals and frontline medical workers in North Central Florida.
As a result of our team member David's years spent working and living in China, we have a direct connection to a medical supply company in China that sells KN-95 masks and surgical masks. The 3M Company (who makes a large quantity of N95 masks in the US) states that: "It is reasonable to consider China KN95 as “equivalent” to US N95 and European FFP2 respirators, for filtering non-oil-based particles such as those resulting from wildfires, PM 2.5 air pollution, volcanic eruptions, or bioaerosols (e.g. viruses)".
We will purchase masks from China and deliver them to hospitals and frontline medical workers in North Central Florida.
Our Goals:
1. Raise $9,000* to purchase 5,000 KN-95 surgical masks + cover shipping costs.
2. Purchase and deliver masks to UF Health Shands Hospital and other places that employ frontline medical workers for them to distribute to healthcare workers.
3. Connect with manufacturers of other needed supplies (face shields, gloves, gowns, etc.) and help get those supplies to front line medical workers.
Who we are:
We are a group of friends who are rallying to do what we can to support frontline medical workers and the community in North Central Florida from COVID-19. We are all working on this issue in our spare time. Below is information about us.
Aleksis Psychas is the director of customer success at Edmodo. He is married to a doctor who is working in the ICU on the front lines of the coronavirus in North Central Florida. They are expecting a new addition to their family this summer and are based in Gainesville.
David Borenstein is a film and radio director and producer who has worked on projects in China for the last decade. His work has been featured by the BBC, NYTimes and more. He is based in Gainesville with his wife Sarah Tobing and their child. Sarah is a research coordinator at UF IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation and also an alum of the school. She has years experience in project management.
FAQ:
How will funds be used?
100% of funds will be used for purchasing KN-95 and FDA licensed surgical masks for direct distribution to hospitals and medical facilities in North Central Florida.
What will you do if you raise more than the asked for amount?
We will order more masks and work with the city of Gainesville to distribute them to those in need.
Why is there a shortage of masks?
Healthcare workers need masks to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19. The scale of this pandemic has caused international shortages - see more in this article -
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-masks-shortage.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
Why can't hospitals procure masks themselves?
Hospitals are trying their best to purchase masks. However, there are supply chain limitations and an international shortage.
How does this make a difference in the coronavirus pandemic?
Keeping frontline healthcare workers healthy is essential to keeping a healthy community in North Central Florida. By providing needed essential medical equipment to frontline medical workers, we can help protect them from COVID-19 transmission.
Why should I support this project instead of other projects?
We urge everyone to help during this pandemic however they can. We started this project to help people in our community but know there are areas of the US and world being hit much harder. To learn more about how you can help we recommend looking at these two articles.
Why was your goal $9,000 and now it's $8,000?
The wonderful folks at Awesome Gainesville granted us $1,000 outside of the GoFundMe Platform. Check out the amazing things that they do in the community https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/gainesville .
The coronavirus is in North Central Florida. There are not enough supplies to protect healthcare workers and national stocks are dwindling. As the virus spreads, we need to protect frontline medical workers from becoming ill from COVID-19.
Our friends and family members work as nurses and doctors at hospitals in North Central Florida and they have confirmed that there is a shortage of masks for healthcare workers.
UF Health Shands Hospital has confirmed that medical masks can be donated there for distribution to their healthcare staff. We are working on donations to other places that employ frontline medical workers.
All donations go directly to purchasing masks to donate to hospitals and frontline medical workers in North Central Florida.
As a result of our team member David's years spent working and living in China, we have a direct connection to a medical supply company in China that sells KN-95 masks and surgical masks. The 3M Company (who makes a large quantity of N95 masks in the US) states that: "It is reasonable to consider China KN95 as “equivalent” to US N95 and European FFP2 respirators, for filtering non-oil-based particles such as those resulting from wildfires, PM 2.5 air pollution, volcanic eruptions, or bioaerosols (e.g. viruses)".
We will purchase masks from China and deliver them to hospitals and frontline medical workers in North Central Florida.
Our Goals:
1. Raise $9,000* to purchase 5,000 KN-95 surgical masks + cover shipping costs.
2. Purchase and deliver masks to UF Health Shands Hospital and other places that employ frontline medical workers for them to distribute to healthcare workers.
3. Connect with manufacturers of other needed supplies (face shields, gloves, gowns, etc.) and help get those supplies to front line medical workers.
Who we are:
We are a group of friends who are rallying to do what we can to support frontline medical workers and the community in North Central Florida from COVID-19. We are all working on this issue in our spare time. Below is information about us.
Aleksis Psychas is the director of customer success at Edmodo. He is married to a doctor who is working in the ICU on the front lines of the coronavirus in North Central Florida. They are expecting a new addition to their family this summer and are based in Gainesville.
David Borenstein is a film and radio director and producer who has worked on projects in China for the last decade. His work has been featured by the BBC, NYTimes and more. He is based in Gainesville with his wife Sarah Tobing and their child. Sarah is a research coordinator at UF IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation and also an alum of the school. She has years experience in project management.
FAQ:
How will funds be used?
100% of funds will be used for purchasing KN-95 and FDA licensed surgical masks for direct distribution to hospitals and medical facilities in North Central Florida.
What will you do if you raise more than the asked for amount?
We will order more masks and work with the city of Gainesville to distribute them to those in need.
Why is there a shortage of masks?
Healthcare workers need masks to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19. The scale of this pandemic has caused international shortages - see more in this article -
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-masks-shortage.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
Why can't hospitals procure masks themselves?
Hospitals are trying their best to purchase masks. However, there are supply chain limitations and an international shortage.
How does this make a difference in the coronavirus pandemic?
Keeping frontline healthcare workers healthy is essential to keeping a healthy community in North Central Florida. By providing needed essential medical equipment to frontline medical workers, we can help protect them from COVID-19 transmission.
Why should I support this project instead of other projects?
We urge everyone to help during this pandemic however they can. We started this project to help people in our community but know there are areas of the US and world being hit much harder. To learn more about how you can help we recommend looking at these two articles.
Why was your goal $9,000 and now it's $8,000?
The wonderful folks at Awesome Gainesville granted us $1,000 outside of the GoFundMe Platform. Check out the amazing things that they do in the community https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/gainesville .
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Tobing
Organizer
Gainesville, FL
Michael Espinosa
Beneficiary
