How To Be a Helper During COVID-19
Donate Blood:
In light of the stay-at-home mandate to take place in the Kansas City region, Community Blood Center (CBC) is cancelling all blood drives through the end of April and extending open hours at its donor centers. Additionally, they are urging healthy donors to make appointments to help maintain the region’s blood supply at this critical time. The outpouring of support from the community has been abundant and much-needed. In order to maintain a controlled environment, CBC will be moving to an appointment-only schedule effective immediately. Walk-ins will not be accepted at this time.
As part of the area’s critical infrastructure, CBC will continue to operate all seven donor centers and is encouraging all donors to continue making appointments to donate. To alleviate travel to and from our donor centers, CBC is providing a letter to donors that indicates they are traveling in order to provide lifesaving blood products. This letter will be sent to all donors with appointments and will also be available online.
Beginning Monday, March 23, all seven of CBC’s donor centers will be open Monday – Thursday 7 am – 7 pm, and Friday – Sunday 7 AM – 4 PM. Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-877-468-6844 or visiting savealifenow.org/coronavirus.
Blood collection sites are disinfected frequently, and we are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19 as per CDC recommendations. CBC staff are also practicing health self-assessments prior to presenting at work. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.
In order to protect our staff, healthy blood donors and our community blood supply, individuals are instructed to avoid donor centers if they are experiencing a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing), have had close contact with someone diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or been diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19 until 28 days after their illness has resolved. CBC does NOT test for COVID-19.
Additional information is available at savealifenow.org/coronavirus.
Donate Masks, Sanitizer, Clorox Wipes:
JoAnn Craft Stores gathered other resources and how-tos from around the web to help and they have free tools, supplies & guidance in our Creator’s Studios for making supplies to donate to America’s hospitals. Learn more at https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/?
As Johnson County continues to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we are now seeking donated cloth masks to build the supply of personal protective equipment that’s in need.
“COVID-19 is continuing to put a strain on the health care system,” said Dan Robeson, deputy director of Johnson County Emergency Management. “We have requested additional masks, but supply is short everywhere, and we must ensure health workers are safe as they serve those who are ill.”
Johnson County will begin accepting donated cloth masks at the Johnson County Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., Olathe. All donations can be dropped off in room 201 in the lower level, during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Some businesses are offering free fabric to make masks. For more information, call 913-715-1041
Learn more at https://www.jocogov.org/dept/emergency-management/home
3D Print Parts for RC2 Face Shields
Calling all Kansas City Makers with 3D printers! Sajon Seaberg, a team member of Astromechs 3409 and Blue Valley West HS Senior, is working with KU Medical Center to source 800 of the 3D printed parts for the RC2 face shields to help with the medical personal protective equipment shortage. If you are willing to donate your product and time to help healthcare providers on the front lines, please DM us here! You can also email us at info@kcastromechs.org
More Ideas from Our Readers:
- Kathy B says, "Have seen people are sewing face masks for health professional. Guidelines are circulating around, as certain fabric is needed."
- Gaby C says, "Praying🙏"
- Patricia C says, "Donate so that kc kids can keep being fed while school is out! https://tagsfreelunchkc.com"
- Kimberly F says, "Clean out your shoe closets and donate to Chucks for Charlie. We will pick up donated shoes once we are safe to be out and about."
- Renee N says, "Start social media groups for your community and offer help. So you can help people you may not know in your community."
- Audra M says, "Donate to feed healthcare workers. Good for the restaurants, too. Win/win!!! https://www.facebook.com/212400018/posts/10100970485353495/?d=n"
- Robin H says, "Clean out closets and give away outgrown clothes."
- Stephanie L says, "Letters to residents in nursing homes" Read: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/18/coronavirus-social-distancing-seniors-cards/2871335001/ for information on this idea.
- Kris M says, "Pick up the phone and call people."
- Cyndi M says, "I think it’d be fun to have kiddos of same age groups jump on zoom and interact with each other. Maybe a topic they can all come together around (share what they do during the day, share about a stuffed animal, share a piece of artwork they made, etc). Or they can just watch if they don’t want to talk."
- Summer B says, "Reaching out personally to our friends in healthcare and thanking them. Or anyone else that has to keep working though this. Asking what they need and offering to have a FaceTime hang out."
- April H says, "Share our favorite movies"
Add your ideas in the comments below!