Looking Back: COVID-19 Remembrance
Swedish Hospital is grateful for the many donations we have been provided during the pandemic.
Over the past year, the outpouring of support from our community has been both humbling and inspiring. During this time of crisis, community members have rallied around the hospital and its staff to provide food, supplies and monetary donations. This critical support ensured that Swedish Hospital had the resources needed to help our patients and staff as they worked to combat the COVID-19 pandemic head-on.
People from across the city helped in a multitude of ways; over 500 individuals and 117 organizations contributed a combined $227,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund to ensure that our patients and front-line staff remained physically and emotionally healthy during this time. From patient pulse oximeters and grocery store gift cards, to employee support groups and transportation vouchers to ensure that our staff could commute safely to and from work, the COVID-19 Relief Fund has been a life-line for thousands in a turbulent period.
At the very beginning of the pandemic, before PPE was widely available, a group of dedicated local 3D-makers worked day and night to produce 2,500 face shields for Swedish front-line staff in a little over 4 weeks. Over the next several months,253 donors contributed more than 18,000 life-saving medical items including goggles, gowns, face masks, gloves, and other medical supplies. From individuals with a box of extra gloves, to construction companies and dental offices with cases of N95 masks, our generous community members shared their limited safety resources with our staff to ensure the continued health of our employees and hospital staff. For a list of donors, click here.
The generosity of our community did not end at PPE; this past year over 50 restaurants provided our hospital staff with more than 10,000 meals and treats. From sub sandwiches and granola bars to hot lunches and bento boxes, the kindness of our local restaurants energized our staff with the emotional and physical support necessary to work through 12-hour COVID-19 shifts. Organizations, such as Fifth Third Bank and PNC generously provided funding to provide our front-line employees with Lyft vouchers so that they could safely travel to and from work without fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19 from public transportation. For a list of donors, click here.
As we approach the 1-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to like to extend our deepest gratitude to the hundreds of donors who provided monetary assistance and/or resources to our patients and employees. Whether supporting our sick and most vulnerable patients or providing for medical staff and clinicians who work tirelessly to heal, your gifts have been life-changing and your kindness during this time is has left an indelible mark. We thank you.