Gloves and masks are among the personal protective equipment donations that USask staff and faculty are donating to the frontline health-care workers who are grappling with the COVID-19 crisis.

USask unites: Campus staff and faculty rally to donate materials to frontline health-care workers

Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.

By University Communications

Extraordinary circumstances have brought out extraordinary responses from members of our USask community. From frontline health-care workers to researchers looking for a solution to this global health threat, there are so many stories about people are working to make our home communities safer and healthy. Here are a few of the inspiring stories of our students, staff, faculty and alumni.

Hundreds of gloves. Thousands of masks.

These items and so much more are among the personal protective equipment (PPE) donations that University of Saskatchewan (USask) staff and faculty are donating to the frontline health-care workers who are grappling with the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are in close contact with 3S Health, the arm that handles the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s procurement and supply chain. We have consolidated our holdings of materials that they may find useful, and we have provided them the list with the intent of transferring anything they need over to them as soon as they ask,” said Richard LeBlanc, director of enterprise procurement with finance and resources.

A team of procurement professionals at USask has similarly offered their services in helping to source and acquire the hard-to-get materials that the Health Authority may be looking for.

The donations have been coming in from all areas of campus. The College of Kinesiology announced a donation of gloves, sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, and several student groups have similarly rallied to get much-needed PPE donations to health-care workers.

“We continue to support our researchers as well (VIDO-InterVac), in ensuring that they are supplied with the materials they need to continue studying the disease and to continue testing possible vaccines,” said LeBlanc.

Share your stories with us: We are collecting the stories of resilience and good spirit from our USask community. Please send story ideas and photos to news@usask.ca.

As a community it is critical that we support each other and remain respectful during what is a difficult time for all of us. Please follow all guidelines and take all precautions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in our community.

How you can help our students during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://alumni.usask.ca/news/2020/covid-19-how-you-can-help-our-students.php

For the latest developments and information about the University of Saskatchewan's response to COVID-19, please go to www.usask.ca/updates.

The University of Saskatchewan is undertaking critical research and contributing to global efforts to combat COVID-19. The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO-InterVac) is a world leader in developing vaccines and technologies to combat infectious diseases. Your support of the COVID-19 Research Fund supports the increased efforts of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Donate now.