Laurier donates personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers

March 30, 2020

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals are at the front line in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Every day, multiple times a day, they rely on personal protective equipment, such as close-fitting face masks and disposable gloves, to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, and are anticipating shortages in the coming weeks and months. They’re asking businesses and organizations, such as veterinary and dental clinics, as well as any Canadians who have their own supplies, to donate unused equipment.

In response to this pressing need, Wilfrid Laurier University has collected thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment from faculties and offices in all of our locations. These supplies will be sent to Grand River Hospital and the Brant Community Healthcare System to be distributed to local hospitals and clinics according to the highest need.

In total, the university is donating nearly 12,000 N95 masks, 38,500 disposable gloves and 200 isolation gowns, along with surgical masks, plastic visors, goggles, hand sanitizer and test kits.

The supplies were donated by Laurier’s Student Wellness Centres, the department of Safety, Health, Environment and Risk Management and labs within the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences. 

Geoff Schwarz, manager of Environmental Health and Safety at Laurier, loads a truck with donations of personal protective equipment.