South San Francisco, CA December 15, 2021 Submitted by Matt Skryja, Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente donates nearly $22 million in PPE and cleaning supplies to SupplyBank.org to help curb the spread of COVID-19
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 – A nearly $22 million donation of critical cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) will help stop the spread of COVID-19 in under-resourced communities and ease the burden of purchasing these materials for schools and nonprofit organizations.
Kaiser Permanente is donating the (PPE) and sanitation supplies through a partnership with SupplyBank.org, a nonprofit agency that distributes critical supplies to vulnerable communities. The donations of sanitary wipes, hand sanitizers, protective gowns and masks, will mean local schools and community-based organizations won’t have to purchase these supplies as they help to protect students, staff, and homeless individuals from the virus.
Kaiser Permanente and SupplyBank.org partnering to help school sanitation.
“This donation alleviates some of that cost pressure for our schools,” said Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L.K. Monroe, who is also a SupplyBank.org board member. “This donation will allow schools to focus their resources on instructional materials and other classroom needs. The supply of personal protective equipment will ensure teachers, students, and families can remain healthy, safe and protected.”
Kaiser Permanente, committed to improving the health of the communities it serves, recognizes the ongoing need for PPE and sanitation supplies, especially in those communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic is not over, and we don’t know the next forms it will take. Personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies have played a critical role in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and communities,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, Senior Vice President for Hospital and Health Plan Operations at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. “We are pleased to help support our community partners and help ease the burden of purchasing supplies, particularly in under-resourced communities.”
Those receiving donated materials include county offices of educations, school districts, County Children and Family Commissions (First 5s), Community Services Block Grant Agencies, and other community-based organizations in California. Organizations in Oregon and Washington state will also receive materials. First 5 California and the California Department of Community Services and Development also contributed to shipping and warehousing costs.
“SupplyBank.org continues to be engaged to ensure our 500 partner organizations have what they need to protect their communities and reduce the spread of the virus,” said Benito Delgado-Olson, founder and Executive Director of SupplyBank.org. “This tremendous gift from Kaiser Permanente is making that possible for the foreseeable future.”
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About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve almost 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. http://about.kaiserpermanente.org
About SupplyBank.org
SupplyBank.org is a collaborative and innovative nonprofit agency that provides essential goods and services to children and families in vulnerable communities throughout California. We deliver basic tangible needs to children and families through trusted safety net organizations to increase the value of their services and the overall resources available to their clients. Through this model collaboration, we seek to permanently and effectively transform the way under-resourced people receive what they need to thrive. By distributing materials through a statewide network of more than 500 partnering agencies that provide additional resources supporting pathways out of poverty, we aim to both alleviate the immediate symptoms of poverty, while incentivizing families to participate in programs that provide pathways towards self-sufficiency. Leveraging existing investments into the safety net enables SupplyBank.org to distribute critical materials through a trusted infrastructure with a leg-up approach while minimizing our operational costs. This model enables SupplyBank.org to provide more than $3 worth of necessities for every $1 invested.
Wonderful, Caring for Community