By arhospice on May 2nd, 2020
Media Contact: David Edwards 469-600-4274 dedwards@arkansashospice.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Hospice, the state’s largest provider of hospice services, has embraced a little creativity and help from the Sew-N-Sew Ministry of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville and other area volunteers to help meet the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) that has been in short supply due to COVID-19.
“When COVID-19 hit, there was a sudden surge in demand and a worldwide shortage. Our patients are among the most vulnerable to the Coronavirus, yet, hospices have not been a high-priority on allocation,” said Jacqi Haines, Director of Facilities and Materials Management for Arkansas Hospice. “We could not find any PPE gowns or masks when the pandemic first hit, but we were not going to let that get in the way of patient care. So, we took an existing gown, made a pattern, found the material in bulk, and took it to the Sew-N-Sew Ministry for cutting and kit assembly,” said Haines.
To date, the ministry has cut and assembled 513 gown kits and more than 100 masks for Arkansas Hospice, and is still working to supplement the needed supply. David Edwards, Media Manager for Arkansas Hospice said, “This is another example of Arkansans helping Arkansans. We cannot say thank you enough to all the volunteers who have helped us find, sew, deliver, and meet the needs we have for PPE to deliver care for our patients while adhering to our infectious disease control protocols. To every volunteer, we are grateful.”
Members of the Sew-N-Sew Ministry who participated in the PPE project are L.A. Tatum, Colleen Van Nostrand, Ursula Crow, Joyce White, Nancy Trippe, Joyce White, Gary White, Stephanie Dunn, Donna Camplain, Kathy Helmer, Kay Kirk, Jean Taylor Payne, Sandy Cobb, Fran Colandrea and Rod Crow.
Arkansas Hospice provides award-winning care to patients and their families from a total of 10 area offices and 3 inpatient centers, covering a 43-county service area across the state.
About Arkansas Hospice
Celebrating more than 28 years of service, Arkansas Hospice’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for those facing serious illness and loss by surrounding them with love and embracing them with the best in physical, emotional and spiritual care. The hospice care provider is the recipient of numerous local, state and national awards, as well as numerous other awards for quality of care, including Hospice Honors Elite from HEALTHCAREfirst, as well as the only hospice in Arkansas to be certified by the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs for nonprofit service to Arkansas’s veteran population. For more information, visit https://arkansashospice.org
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