There are innumerable ways Huntington residents can assist others in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. Staying at home and practicing social distancing, of course, is one of them. But there are other projects, already underway, both here and around the world.
Here are a few; please let us know of ideas you may have.
- Diana Cherryholmes, formerly of the Huntington Arts Council and now at Suffolk County, is donating 240 yards of paracord and connectors to a designers’ studio in New York City to be used on the production of face masks for healthcare workers.
- John Paraszczuk is collecting face masks from his front porch in East Northport. He said that as people stick closer to home, they have less need for the masks and asks that the drop them in a bin at his home.”I am asking anyone in the home improvement industry who may have a few extra unused masks to consider donating. I am asking anyone who may have purchased masks when news of the outbreak surfaced to consider donating what you and your families have not used, and do not NEED. I am asking anyone who has the means and is willing to help to please do so.” Contact him on Facebook.
- Theresa Sullivan started Huntington Hospital Meals, to feed hospital workers pulling long shifts under difficult conditions, and collecting donations to pay hardpressed restaurants to deliver the food.
- Red Restaurant and Stella Blue are running a similar campaign and have so far delivered more than 150 meals. Restaurants are stepping up to support both efforts.
- A Huntington resident found two sealed Home Depot N-95-rated masks and donated them to a pediatrician who has been unable to get new masks for a couple of weeks. Check your supplies from that planned home project you never got around to doing.
- How to make face masks
- More face mask links
- Women who work from home to make shoes in Spain are turning their talents to making masks.
- TV medical shows are donating their equipment to hospitals and fire departments.
- The Henry Ford Health System is showing how to produce equipment, including homemade masks.
- The governor of California is asking seamstresses to help out.
- Businesses around the world are figuring out ways to convert their factories and production facilities to producing ICU beds and other equipment.
- What can you do? You may not be able to donate directly to the fight against the epidemic. But you can make sure your neighbors are okay or reach out to local organizations assisting those hard hit financially by the shutdown. Food banks, such as Long Island Cares and Island Harvest, as well as food pantries throughout the area are taking donations for those who have already lost their jobs.
- Other ways to help.