From Cook County Minnesota - March 27, 2020

The Cook County Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and local healthcare facilities have established a process to accept donations for local COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts. The donation center will be staffed beginning Monday, March 30.

“We understand that people want to help, and we have responded by establishing a mechanism that is both safe and practical,” said Grace Grinager, public health supervisor for Cook County Public Health and Human Services and EOC incident commander in conjunction with Cook County Emergency Management Director Mike Keyport.

To make a donation, an individual needs to contact the donations manager at 218-387-3638 or [email protected]. Phone and emails will be answered between 8 a.m. and  4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drop-offs will be accepted by appointment only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

The list of needed supplies is changing rapidly, Grinager said. As of Friday morning, that list comprised N95 masks, face shields, Tyvek suits, and gowns coated with polypropylene. Additionally, the EOC can accept protective masks created utilizing the pattern https://www.sewgoodgoods.org/face-mask-covid-19.  This is the pattern that both Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and North Shore Hospital have verified for use during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With a process to accept donations set up for community response, the EOC is asking that individuals refrain from calling or visiting the clinic and hospital with donations.

“Our healthcare facilities are focused on routine patient treatment and pandemic preparedness efforts, and we want to assist by minimizing interruptions as much as possible,” Grinager said.

“We thank everyone for their commitment to helping during these uncertain times,” Grinager stated. “We are blessed to have such a generous, caring community.”