As state hospitals prepare for a potential influx of COVID-19 patients, many of them have expressed concerns about running low on medical supplies and ventilators.

It’s a problem that the nation is seeing in the larger urban areas including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Madison College and other colleges in the state are trying to help alleviate some of that concern.

According to Bill Bessette, the college’s senior media relations liaison, Madison College has donated personal protective equipment to area hospitals and is loaning 18 ventilators to local hospitals including Meriter and UW Health.

The protective gear and ventilators were for use in the college’s health programs. Since the college has moved to online instruction for the remainder of the semester due to the coronavirus pandemic, these items could be put to use helping to save others.

Bessette said the hospitals and clinics that received protective gear from the college include: SSM Health, St. Mary’s Hospital, UW Hospitals and Clinics, Unity Point Health-Meriter Hospital, Access Community Health Centre and American Family Children’s Hospital.

Supplies these organizations are asking for included ventilators, gowns, gloves, masks, syringes, wheelchairs and other medical supplies.

Madison College donated more than 46,000 gloves, 2,000 face masks/shields and 245 gowns to area hospitals and clinics. Other colleges around the state are also donating any equipment and protective gear they can.

“The coronavirus outbreak has created uncertainty in all of our lives,” Madison College Dean of Health Education Dr. Kendricks Hooker said in a college news release announcing the donations. “In light of all the uncertainty, Madison College will be certain to fulfill its commitment to our students and our communities to help in any way that we can.”

In addition, the college’s cafeteria, culinary arts program and student food pantry donated more than 3,700 pounds of food to the River Food Pantry. The food came from supplies that would not be need on campus due to move to online instruction.

There are many ways you can help others during this time of need. Local hospitals are still accepting donations of personal protective equipment that might be available. With so many people unemployed, donations to food pantries are needed more now than ever.

Finally, you can donate to a student emergency support fund Madison College has created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The fund was established to help students who are suffering from job loss, unemployment, medical expenses, housing expenses and food insecurity.

You can learn more about donating by visiting the college’s website at madisoncollege.edu and searching for student emergency support fund.