Helping healthcare workers: Ways you can help during the COVID-19 pandemic
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — With staffing shortages and surges of hospital patients, there are ways to help local healthcare workers.
All hospital systems in the Treasure Valley are recommending people do their best to stay healthy right now. Going beyond that, there are some ways to go the extra mile.
At Saint Alphonsus, financial donations are accepted to help healthcare workers. According to its website, financial donations go to a variety of things:
- Resiliency programs for frontline providers
- Supplies and equipment
- Workforce relief for those in quarantine or with family hardships
- Partnerships with local agencies that offer housing and food access to patients with limited or no resources.
There are also ways to donate encouraging treats to Saint Alphonsus workers right now. Right now the hospital is accepting food and self-care items:
- Individual food items such as power bars, granola bars, trail mixes, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, cookies, candy bars, and snack cakes (unopened, unexpired, and in the original packaging) Please package food items in groupings for 10 people.
- Catered meals from food trucks, or individually packaged and prepared meals by special arrangement only (no homemade food can be accepted)
- Take-out/delivered food (pizza, etc.) by special arrangement only
- Self-care items such as travel size shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, dry shampoo, combs, chapstick, toothbrush and toothpaste, or any other items that could refresh and revigorate staff who don't have time to go home between shifts.
- Gift cards to be used for colleague support items
- Written cards of encouragement
Saint Alphonsus also says little things help like signs, decorating your home or voicing support on social media is one way to offer positive encouragement.
St. Luke's also offers similar tips online as well. Financial donations can be directed to the most urgent area of need or designated to a specific service or program.
According to St. Luke's donations go towards:
- Capital Improvements that help purchase or upgrade medical technology.
- Endowment helps support programs and services for future generations.
- Community Support in helping others educate themselves, maintain a healthy lifestyle, cope with loss, maintain dignity in their declining years, and have timely access to quality healthcare.
To donate food at St. Luke's, a food form can be submitted online. Right now the hospital is accepting donations from licensed food establishments.
Volunteers are also welcomed at St. Luke's. People interested can register through the Medical Reserve Corps.
Information from Saint Alphonsus HERE.
