Community support boosts supplies, spirits for MUSC Health care teams and patients during pandemic 

Since the pandemic began in March, more than 300 people, businesses, and organizations have donated meals, equipment, supplies and personal protective equipment for MUSC Health care team members and patients. As the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continues to climb across South Carolina, these donations have helped MUSC respond and prepare for taking care of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state.

“The outpouring of support for our care team members and patients during this pandemic has been extraordinary, especially considering how many families and businesses are struggling themselves,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., MUSC Health CEO and vice president for Health Affairs, University. “These gifts have boosted our capacity of in demand health supplies for MUSC Health care teams who put their own health at risk to care for our patients. The community as well as many of our partners have come together to support our teams physically and mentally, with supplies, meals and motivating messages. We can’t thank them enough and appreciate the continued support as we weather this pandemic.”

In-kind donations at a glance: March 20 to June 26, 2020 

Supplies

• 25,000+ face shields.
• 58,410 masks.
• Air freight and delivery of 150,000 goggles and protective face shields.
• Three loaner cars for team members without transportation.
• 54 iPads for patients who have been isolated from family and friends because of COVID-19 visitor restrictions.

Food

• 72 hospital units served.
• 15,480 free meals to those working the front lines.
• 2,160 pounds of food to care team members.

“The community awareness of front line care workers has been amazing,” said Matina Kordonis, a nurse who works in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) with COVID-19 patients. “The amount of support from the community to make sure we have what we need has been overwhelming and puts smiles on everyone’s faces. The support of the community has been a positive light through this pandemic.”

MUSC Health appreciates and welcomes donations. For a current list of supply requests, please visit MUSC Health’s donations page. Monetary donations can be made online at giving.musc.edu or by phone at 843-792-2678.

Interviews available

Please contact Melissa Varner, public information director for the Department of Development and Alumni Affairs, at [email protected] to set up an interview with the following MUSC Health personnel:

• Tom Crawford, Ph.D., MUSC Health chief operations officer
• Jennifer Simon, analyst, Capital Asset Planning & Tracking Support Services/Asset Management. Simon has tracked goods and services donated to MUSC Health throughout the pandemic.