Here’s How to Donate N95 Masks and Other Protective Gear to Philly Hospitals

Yes, you can donate the N95 masks you have at home. Here’s how. Image via gilz/Jasmin Merdan/Getty Images

It’s no secret that America is facing a massive personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage right now. Across the country, health care providers are pleading for the standard gear they need — from N95 masks to gowns to gloves — to help keep them healthy on the front lines as they fight COVID-19. Because you know what’s worse than battling a pandemic? Battling a pandemic when all the doctors are sick.

Just to give you an idea of how bad this shortage is, some doctors are being asked to reuse single-use masks, and are storing them in paper bags between shifts. The New York Times interviewed one physician who is spritzing her masks with alcohol, attempting to disinfect them between uses, until the masks disintegrates.

This is what it looks like in the ICU. Rows of brown bags each labeled with the name of a nurse or doctor . We are told to keep and reuse these masks , which under normal conditions would be thrown out each time we leave the isolation room. #GetMePPE pic.twitter.com/8blP8LzAGv

— Victoria (@V_Q_W) March 19, 2020

The medical community has rallied around a hashtag — #GetMePPE — as they petition the government for more supplies. It’s also being used to crowdsource protective gear from the public, as the physicians turn to citizens for donations.

https://twitter.com/silverdalepeds/status/1240002235418853376

Wondering what you can do to help during this crisis? Donate any PPE you have to your local hospital. If you’re one of the many who panic-bought N95 masks at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, now’s the time to get them into the hands of the people who really need them. Even if you didn’t go out and buy any masks related to the coronavirus, check your workbenches and craft tables — plenty of construction masks are N95 rated. Even if they’re not N95, considering that doctors are now being told to use bandanas and scarves in place of available PPE, literally any mask is worth donating. 

We asked local hospitals what they need and how the public can donate. Below, find their instructions.

Einstein Healthcare Network

Einstein is asking for donations, given that they “anticipate need to overwhelm existing supplies of personal protective equipment.”

What they’re looking for:

• N95 masks
• Face masks (with ties or elastic)
• Disposable gowns
• Protective glasses /goggles
• Gloves
• Hand sanitizer
• Regular face shields
• Bleach or disinfecting wipes
• Non-contact thermometers

How to donate:

To donate to their centers in Philadelphia or Elkins Park, you can call 215-456-7200 to arrange a pick up or bring your donation the addresses below. To donate to their Einstein Medical Center Montgomery location, you can call 484-622-7013 to arrange a pick up or drop off.

Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park/MossRehab
Main Entrance
60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park

Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia
Main Entrance
5501 Old York Road, North Philly

Jefferson Health

Jefferson asks that all donations come in unexpired and in their original, unopened packaging.

What they’re looking for:

• N-95 respirator masks (medical grade preferred) or industrial, NIOSH and FDA approved
• Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
• Surgical grade earloop facemasks (preferred) or tieback face masks
• Masks with face shields
• Goggles (no openings on sides)

How to donate:

Jefferson has four different drop-off locations, all open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Bluemle Life Sciences Building (loading dock)
233 South 10th Street, Center City

Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health
Levy Medical Plaza
1235 Old York Road (off of Woodland Road), Abington, PA

Jefferson Torresdale Hospital – Main Lobby
10800 Knights Road, Northeast Philadelphia

Jefferson Health – New Jersey
The Church
367 Hurffville-Crosskeys Rd., Sewell, NJ

Temple Health

Temple is also accepting protective gear from the public, and asks that you email about any materials you’d like to donate.

What they’re looking for:

• Masks
• N95 masks
• Gowns
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Face shields
• Tyvek coveralls
• Hand sanitizer
• Sanitizing wipes

How to donate:

Email covid19@tuhs.temple.edu with information on the gear you’d like to donate and they will coordinate with you.

Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine is looking for community support and donations to protect their health care workers.

What they’re looking for:

• Masks, face protection, paper ear loop or tie in original carton (Penn is not accepting donations of homemade or cloth masks)
• Gloves, non-latex, all sizes in original carton
• Wipes, bleach, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
• Bottles of bleach (not splash-less)
• Hand sanitizers
• Head covers, disposable bouffant type with elastic band
• Shoe covers, disposable
• Eye protection including face shields
• Safety goggles
• Gowns, disposable water resistant cover gowns in original carton
• PAPRs (powered air-purifying respirators) and PAPR hoods

How to donate:

If you have supplies to donate, you can either mail them in or drop them off.

Donate by mail:
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Attn: Receiving Department
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Pennsylvania Hospital
Attn: Donations
800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Attn: Donations
51 N 39th Street
Philadelphia, PA.19104

Drop-off locations:
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Security Booth outside of the Gates Building entrance on 36th and Spruce Streets
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Loading Dock
51 N 39th Street
Philadelphia, PA.19104

Pennsylvania Hospital
Main Entrance Welcome Desk
800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital
Hospital Parking Garage
701 E. Marshall St.
West Chester, PA 19380

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
Clipper Magazine Stadium
650 N. Prince Street
Lancaster, PA
(Find special instructions for donating at this location here.)