Dankmeyer employees have been working diligently to remain open and safely take care of patients during these challenging times. In addition to working hard to ensure the safety of our staff and patients, over the past few months, we have also been working with and giving back to our community. Below is just a quick snapshot, along with ways that you can give back to your communities too!
When a few medical institutions in the Baltimore area requested fabric masks, Dankmeyer immediately responded! Prior to the requests, we had already set up a new sewing station at our office, and everyone jumped in to sew masks to donate to the local hospitals, raiding their sewing supplies and fabric stashes. While these sewn masks are not medical grade, they are used in non-patient care settings to contain coughs and to remind people not to touch their faces throughout the day.
In addition to sewing masks, some of our employees also joined a local effort to 3D print parts to make face shields for medical personnel treating patients. We have also used this technology in our office for our own practitioners, so when you come see us for your appointment, your clinician may be wearing one of these face shields themselves!
Even if you do not have the ability to donate masks or face shields to front line workers in your local region, there are still many ways you can give back to your communities:
1) Wear a mask! As more research is completed every day, it has been shown that there is a significant benefit of wearing a mask, both to protect yourself from someone who may be infected, as well as to protect others if you are unknowingly an asymptomatic carrier, ultimately preventing further spread. If you have a mask, wear it proud! And encourage everyone you know to do so too!
2) Sew/donate masks to others! An extra mask or two can go a long way. If you have access to any extra masks, consider passing them along to friends and family members.
3) Donate blood! Due to the pandemic, there is has been a shortage of blood supply at hospitals. To find a blood drive near you contact the Red Cross.
4) Donate plasma! If you or someone you know has recovered since testing positive for COVID-19, your plasma may have antibodies that can help those infected. To see if you qualify click here.
5) Volunteer opportunities! There are many non-profit organizations that are organizing volunteer opportunities within their communities, and many of them don’t even involve you leaving your home! Opportunities can be found in Maryland through a variety of resources. Click here for a list of Maryland nonprofit organizations. This other site has information about organizations seeking virtual volunteers - click here.
6) Food security is an issue for many people who have lost their jobs during this time. Consider donations to or volunteering at any reputable food bank. Click here for a link to the Maryland Food Bank.
The more we come together as a community, the bigger difference we can make to help protect those around us and to stop the spread of COVID-19. For more information on Dankmeyer’s COVID-19 response regarding our day-to-day operations, please visit our page on COVID-19.
