Updates to MultiCare’s donation needs during the COVID-19 situation

Editor’s note: this article was originally published March 26, 2020, and was updated May 13, 2020, to reflect an update on donation drop-off hours and MultiCare’s policy on accepting homemade, cloth masks.

MultiCare Health System is grateful to the generous community members who are stepping up and making contributions to bolster MultiCare’s equipment inventory because of a global shortage of supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations have been hugely appreciated and helpful as we address this situation and care for our patients. MultiCare would like to provide an update on the organization’s donation needs.

Manufactured PPE

If people have unopened boxes of masks, gloves or gowns that they would like to donate they can drop them off between 11am and 2pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the hospital locations listed at the bottom of this article. Specifications of all donated products will be evaluated, and they will then be allocated accordingly. If opened containers of PPE are donated, these products will be placed through a cleaning process before distributed for use.

Homemade cloth masks

In response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent recommendation for all citizens to wear face masks when out in public, MultiCare is welcoming cloth mask donations from the community, in an effort to reduce the risk of transmission. Though cloth masks do not have the necessary filtration rating for health care providers to wear when providing patient care, they do serve a function. We can provide them to our hospital and clinic patients and visitors who arrive without their own mask, and reserve the surgical mask supply for our clinical staff when caring for patients. Cloth masks are also provided to homebound COVID-19 positive patients and their household contacts, to reduce the risk of further transmission.

If you are willing to make and donate cloth masks, we thank you. Please note the following instructions:

1. If possible, use a mask pattern that includes a type of wire (e.g., pipe cleaner) so the mask can be fitted over the nose.
2. If possible, use a high-density fabric such as quilters cotton or a woven fabric like batik. This will allow for a better filtration rate.
3. Do not create masks that use rubber bands for the ear loops. The rubber bands can cause irritation and skin breakdown.

Food donations

Thanks to generous contributions from the community, we have a good supply of individually wrapped, commercially prepared food to provide snacks to our hard-working staff and do not require more at this time. Local food banks are still in need of your food donations. We recommend reaching out directly to your local food bank to find out their current needs.

Blood donations

Our local blood banks are running low and would appreciate blood donations. MultiCare does not have any donation sites at our facilities. For a list of sites where you can donate blood, please visit the Red Cross.

Financial contributions

MultiCare has established a COVID-19 Response Fund to honor and support caregivers, help provide access to care and address emergent needs as this extraordinary health crisis continues. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to this fund, you may do so through the MultiCare Foundations.

Donation sites

We will gladly accept donations between the hours of 11am and 2pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the locations below.

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Distribution Center – Loading dock
94 1st Street NE
Auburn, WA 98002

MultiCare Covington Medical Center Distribution Center – Loading dock
17700 SE 272nd St
Covington, 98042

MultiCare Deaconess Hospital – Front entrance*
800 W 5th Avenue
Spokane, WA 99204

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital Distribution Center – Loading dock
1421 3rd St SE
Puyallup, WA 98372

MultiCare Tacoma General/Mary Bridge Children’s/Allenmore Hospitals – Tacoma General loading dock
402 S J St
Tacoma, Washington 98405

MultiCare Valley Hospital – Front entrance*
12606 E Mission Avenue
Spokane Valley, WA 99216

* If you are bringing donations to Deaconess or Valley hospital, ensure you are wearing a mask and please do not come if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness.

More information on COVID-19’s spread in our communities, and the work MultiCare is doing to address it, can be found at MultiCare’s COVID-19 Resource Center.