There has been a tremendous outpouring of generosity from the community of offers to help support Bassett and its care teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former patients, the sewing community, individuals, and local businesses have been donating their time and necessary supplies to supplement the need for personal protective equipment (PPE). Among the donations to date has been from Northern Otsego BOCES, which donated 700 – N95 masks to the Bassett network.

“Like many other citizens wishing to help friends, neighbors, and our community work through this health care crisis, ONC BOCES is pleased to share supplies to assist our health care workers, first responders, and all who are putting their lives at risk to help us,” says Dave Morell, engineering teacher at the Otsego Area Occupational Center.

Additional donations are welcome, as we are still in need of additional personal protective equipment. To help guide individuals, community groups, and businesses that would like to help, here is a list of needed supplies:

· N95 respirators and surgical masks

· Gloves

· Face shields

· Hand sanitizer

· Procedure masks – disposable or fabric (information about sewing fabric masks is available at bassett.org/covid-19/protective-fabric-masks)

· Gowns

Donated supplies can be delivered to the closest hospital in the Bassett Healthcare Network. Each facility has a box clearly marked outside the facility to place your donations. In Cooperstown, a box is available at the facility’s location on 26 Grove Street. Cloth mask donations will be collected at each setting, bagged appropriately, and sent to Bassett Medical Center for washing. All donated materials will be processed and subsequently distributed to network locations as needs arise. Some supplies may be used immediately while others are sent to storage as back-up stock.

If you are a business and wish to make a donation of the materials listed above, please contact us: https://www.bassett.org/contact-us.

If you wish to make a monetary donation to support these or other efforts, please contact the Friends of Bassett at (607) 547-3928 or 1-800-BASSETT. You can also make a donation securely online. Visit www.friendsofbassett.org and look for the "Donate Now" button. Within the donation form, please select the designation of "Other."

For more information about COVID-19 and Bassett's response, visit bassett.org/covid-19.

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