FREMONT- Director of the Fremont Health Foundation, Shawn Shanahan, gave an update on community help and donations happening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have had an amazing response from our generous community of people making homemade masks, dropping off supplies they didn’t use during last year’s flood, donating lunches, dinners, and supplies for our healthcare team. We’ve also been very fortunate, we’ve had some foundation and private donors, and some grants help us and assist us in purchasing some higher-end equipment that was needed,” said Shanahan.
One of the items they have been able to purchase thanks to these donations is iPads.
Shanahan said, “We have purchased iPads knowing that we’ve moved to one visitor per room and no visitors in positive COVID-19 cases. We wanted families to be able to stay connected and wanted the opportunity for them to be able to Facetime and communicate with their loved ones.”
Other donations have been graciously brought in through different foundations in the USA and have helped the hospital purchase equipment it has needed for a while, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Foundations across the US helped us with some really needed equipment. Lucas machines were placed in our emergency rooms and ICU’s and they will remain here after COVID-19. They help with chest compressions and breathing assistance. It takes away some of the human interaction, time, and additional staff needed and instead lets the machines do the work which helps us save more lives,” said Shanahan.
Below is a picture of the Lucas machine being used on a mannequin:
Shanahan stated that there is still much left that you can do as they go through 60-70 masks daily with workers and are always needing more.
If you would like to help support, you can donate:
- gowns and homemade masks
- commercially wrapped individual snacks like cheez-its
- Dunklau Gardens needs puzzles, word searches, and other activities for residents to do
- Cash donation to buy lunch/dinner for a department
- Cash donation for additional expenses from COVID-19 like supplies, equipment, and training
To help donate items you can contact Shawn Shanahan at:
- Phone: 402-727-3566
- Email: Shawn.shanahan@nmhs.org
- Office: Fremont Health Foundation inside the Fremont Hospital in the administration wing.
