This is initiative is part of This Old House: Live—daily programming and opportunities to connect with our experts during these challenging times.
Health care workers around the country are facing shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 masks, safety goggles, face shields, and nitrile gloves—items that are common among construction sites as well as home workshops.
If you have spare, unused masks, respirator cartridges, nitrile gloves, safety goggles or face shields, please donate them.
Unless you live in a major city, figuring out how and where to donate unused PPE can be tricky. Most hospitals and doctor’s offices don’t recommend showing up, so start by contacting your county public health office to see if there’s a need in your area. You can check in your area by clicking here.
Ways to Donate:
You can visit DonatePPE, which includes a list of which medical facilities across the country that are requesting equipment, and the specific drop-off procedures of those facilities.
PPE Donations by State:
California:
- The County of Santa Clara Health System is accepting donations at its San Jose location. They will hand out donations to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospital & Clinics, O’Connor Hospital, St Louise Regional Hospital, Santa County County Public Health Department and others.
- Volunteers are organizing the collection and delivery of PPE in the Bay Area. If you would like to donate, fill out this form online.
- San Mateo County is also seeking donations via its website to assist health care providers and facilities in California.
Maryland:
- Johns Hopkins University is accepting PPE donations.
Massachusetts:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology is accepting PPE donations.
- Massachusetts General Hospital is seeking donations of equipment.
- The Cambridge Health Alliance is seeking donations of equipment and thermometers.
- The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has set up a procurement and donation program:
Michigan:
- The University of Michigan medical center is collecting donations.
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is also accepting donations on its website.
New York:
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center is seeking donations of PPE:
- Businesses that would like to sell PPE to New York state are advised to contact the governor’s office through its website.
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office is looking to buy gear for hospitals and is happy to accept donated equipment.
- Jonah Bruno, a spokesperson of the state Department of Health, said the state is taking donations of “all sizes” — from corporate sources as well as individuals. Cuomo’s office provided the following contact information to connect donors to those who need equipment: Call 646-522-8477 or email COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov.
- More information for those offering donations is also available through the governor’s COVID-19 donation website.
Washington:
- The state also collecting equipment via its website. Washington is focusing on donations in bulk to fill the highest needs first and advises individuals with smaller donations to contact your local emergency management agency.
- Seattle Children’s is accepting donations.
- Volunteers in a group called the Seattle Mask Brigade are picking up N-95 masks in-person to donate to Seattle-area healthcare and social service professionals. To donate unused masks, you can fill out a form on its website.
If you know of other organizations seeking donations of PPE equipment, please email contact@thisoldhouse.com and we’ll include it in this list.