Bradenton businesses, residents rally to find medical supplies for healthcare workers
Chris McComas stumbled onto the social media post on March 20.
It was a pretty straightforward request from Lakewood Ranch’s Facebook page: Support frontline healthcare workers with donations of healthcare or construction grade masks to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
McComas, a 34-year-old living in Lakewood Ranch, owns MVP Sports and Social, which is an adult co-ed sports league mixed with social events for Bradenton, Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.
With 1,400 active players, McComas shared the post from MVP Sports and Social’s Facebook page.
“It kind of spread like wildfires to a point where it actually connected us to someone who did have the means to get (the N-95 masks),” McComas said.
Supplies needed
That individual, who McComas said wanted to remain anonymous, received 200 N-95 masks from China that went to McComas, who plans to donate the masks starting Friday.
It’s one example of many of area residents helping healthcare workers combat COVID-19 as with donations of medical supplies..
“With a hurricane, you know the protocols, you know the procedure and you know what to do,” McComas said. “With this, every day it feels like it’s a brand new day. Every day, you’re getting new information. ... It does feel good to know that we’ve been able to do something, but at the same time it’s clearly not enough. And that’s the helpless part.”
More than 100 individuals, as well as local businesses, have donated supplies to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The facility has also received food donations and handmade mask donations.
“It makes a huge difference in staff just knowing that the community cares about them in receiving donations on a daily basis,” said Lakewood Ranch Medical Center marketing director Kristina Sparacino .
The Mask Project
Jennifer Gaynor, a Sarasota resident who works in the healthcare industry, is also aiding efforts locally to get more personal protective equipment, or PPE, for frontline workers.
She’s gotten involved with The Mask Project Tampa Bay as the point of contact for Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The Mask Project aims to create masks for healthcare workers facing the coronavirus pandemic.
There are more than 1,600 masks requested locally, and Gaynor said Manatee County hospitals have been supportive.
She said she needs more people willing to help. As of now, Gaynor plans to pick up 100 masks from lead sewer Mary Pulice Egan, who works for the North River Fire District in Palmetto, to donate Monday.
Businesses looking to donate fabric and volunteers looking to sew can sign up here, or call Gaynor at 941-210-9296 for more information on getting involved.
Among those donation to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center so far include:
- REI Safety Services
- Humane Society
- Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team
- International Center for Dental Education
- Dr. Warren Hoffman Dentistry
- Dr. Kinga Porter with WHOLE HEALTH
- Arsenault
- JPAN Sushi and Grill
- First Watch Corporate
- Lavish Nail Salon
- Umbare
- MVP Sports and Social
- Lakewood Ranch Community Activities
- Schroeder-Manatee Ranch
- The Mall at University Town Center
- 7 Eleven locations in Bradenton
- Cameo Braun
- Le Macaroon
- The Capital Grille
- Kombucha 221BC
- Dunkin’ Donuts on Lorraine Road
- Libby’s Lakewood Ranch
- Nothing Bundt Cake in Sarasota
- The Grove
- Fit Life Food
- Madeline Fanning Cookies
- Del Webb residents
- Dr. Raffaela Villella with House Call Chiropractic
- Wawa
- Chick-fil-A on Fruitville Road in Sarasota
- Hope Home Inspections LLC (Robert Seth-Ward)
- Station 400
- Naughty Monk
- Chef Judi
- LECOM Suncoast Classic
- Hospital Beauty Donations
- Valentino’s Pizza
- Bridgewater
- Mike Fitzpatrick
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Center volunteers
- Georgia Chemical Equipment Company
- Scrub Club
- Shipley Donuts
- The Out-of-Door Academy
- Care Patrol
- Trilogy
- Nurse on Call home health
- Naples Soap
- Lakewood Ranch/Manatee County AUX board member Carole Cowan
- Church on the Rock in Palmetto
- Lakewood Ranch Sewing Club
- Lakewood Ranch community activities
- Lakewood Ranch Knitting Club
- Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club
- Lakewood Ranch Mom’s Group
- Ladies of Colony Cove
