SLO County hospitals, homeless services need your donations to combat coronavirus safely

There’s a nationwide shortage on personal protective equipment, and some San Luis Obispo County facilities are feeling the hit.

Community Health Centers, which has clinics across San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties, is asking the community for N-95 respirator masks, disinfectant wipes and solutions and cash donations.

The Central Coast healthcare network said in a news release that its clinics are seeing hundred of new patients asking to be tested for coronavirus.

In order to cover the increased operating costs and provide necessary protective equipment, Community Health Centers has reached out for community donations.

5Cities Homeless Coalition in Grover Beach and 40 Prado in San Luis Obispo are also in need of donations of personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and gowns.

Janna Nichols, director of 5Cities Homeless Coalition, asked anyone who purchased masks, sanitizer or safety goggles to donate them. Volunteers can come and pick up equipment from donors’ doorsteps, with no contact.

“I can’t impress on it enough,” Nichols said. ”If you don’t need those gloves, handy wipes, safety masks or hand sanitizer because you are stuck at home — you need to re-purpose those and put them back in the community.”

In Santa Barbara County, Cottage Health has set up a drive-through collection center for medical supply donations.

The drop-off, located in the parking area adjacent to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital at 351 S. Patterson Avenue, is accepting face shields, eye shields, isolation gowns, N95 and N99 masks, and homemade masks, according to a Cottage Health news release. Drop off hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cottage Health, which has locations in Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo, said its medical staff has gone from using 25 masks per day to going through more than 500 masks a day.

On Monday, San Luis Obispo County public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said the county has started to receive requests for personal protective equipment for healthcare providers and they are able to meet the demand, with the exception of hospital gowns.

Although Borenstein said gowns are not essential protective gear to collect samples for coronavirus testing, providers are experiencing a shortage.

Tenet Health Central Coast, which operates Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, said it is adequately equipped and are not requesting donations at this time.

“We are grateful and humbled to see the community’s readiness to support those on the front lines of this pandemic,” a Tenet Health Central Coast statement read. “While we are truly appreciative of donations, we are confident that we can safely and appropriately care for our patients with the necessary supplies and equipment in the immediate and near future.”

Dignity Health, which operates Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, also said it currently has enough supplies. But the healthcare company has a list which items it will accept if people would like to donate.

According to Megan Maloney, Dignity Health senior director of marketing and communications, Dignity Health locations have had more than 150 community organizations and individuals donate supplies or money to their five locations.

“We have been humbled by the outpouring of support and are so proud to live in such a caring and compassionate community,” Maloney wrote in an email to The Tribune.

Borenstein advised all healthcare providers in need of equipment reach out to the Public Health Department.

Cal Poly and local businesses such as Harbor Freight have met some of the requests for supplies.

Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts announced Tuesday that itwould donate 38,000 nitril gloves to French Hospital Medical Center and emergency services in San Luis Obispo County. According to a social media post, the gloves were donated to the college a few years ago and have not been used.

Donations can be made to Community Health Centers via phone at 805-361-8570, via email at SupportCHC@chccc.org or online via its website.

This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 2:21 PM.