Local businesses, nonprofits, individuals and many others have answered the call to help Day Kimball Healthcare during this historic pandemic. The community has been swift in their response, making financial contributions, donating goods and services, and whatever else it takes to keep our neighbors healthy and safe.

One such organization is MaskForce NYC, a group of volunteer entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and supply chain specialists who have come together to support the critical shortage of supplies plaguing medical facilities in the wake of COVID-19.

MaskForce NYC teamed up with NYC-based RETI Center – a 501(c)3 nonprofit born out of Superstorm Sandy with a mission to build resilient communities – to raise funds, source, purchase, and deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals around NYC. Within less than 1.5 weeks of starting, the group delivered 8,000 masks directly to over 15 public hospitals and healthcare centers. The initiative has now expanded into other states and cities, raising over $90,000 to secure and deliver thousands of PPE to frontline health care professionals.

Of these donations, includes 1,000 KN95 masks that were delivered to Day Kimball Healthcare on May 6.

Dr. Carmen Pisc, Medical Director of Hematology/Oncology at Day Kimball Healthcare, was contacted by family friend, Alex Dumitrescu of MaskForce NYC, about this donation and the group’s desire to show their gratitude and support for medical professionals working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Pisc connected Alex with Kristen Willis, Director of Development at Day Kimball Healthcare, who oversees the region’s PPE donation collection in collaboration with the Northeast District Department of Health.

“We are so grateful to MaskForce for this donation of 1,000 KN95 masks to support our healthcare workforce,” said Willis. “The outpouring of support we have received from the community has been truly inspiring and has warmed our hearts during this challenging time. The generosity of MaskForce will directly arm our workers with the safety protection they need as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“On behalf of our patients and healthcare providers, I want to thank MaskForce NYC and RETI Center for their eagerness to support our dedicated hospital employees who are working hard to keep our community healthy and safe here in Northeast Connecticut,” said Joseph Adiletta, interim president, Day Kimball Healthcare. “As a non-profit community hospital, we rely on our community for donations, large and small, to help us fight this global pandemic. These masks will help protect our physicians, nurses, and employees as they deliver safe, quality care to our patients during this outbreak.”

For more information on donating supplies to Day Kimball Healthcare, visit www.daykimball.org/donatePPE.

Areas of Related Interest

Donate PPE to DKH
DKH COVID-19 Response Fund