PPE Update
Tyler Drenon from the Libraries Innovation Lab sends us these updates on the great collaborative work he is engaged in to provide more PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for healthcare professionals and other first responders:
Hope you’re staying safe and looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
Quick updates on the PPE initiative from the Libraries Innovation Lab:
- We have produced nearly 1,000 units of PPE for the Springfield Fire Department, SPD, Greene County Emergency Management, Christian County Emergency Management, United Way, Lakeland Behavioral Health, Mercy, the YMCA, Jordan Valley Health Center, Primrose Dental, DermaHealth, and the Springfield News-Leader.
- We have partnered with several local nonprofits, Businesses, and institutions: O-STEAM, Dream IT Make IT, Make Magazine, CoxHealth, JVIC, Drury, OTC, Willard Laser, Regal Plastics, Camdenton High School, and several individuals.
- O-STEAM received a grant from the Community Foundation for the Ozarks that covers materials costs for PPE production. I can look into retroactive reimbursement, but going forward I will be procuring materials through O-STEAM. We have enough money to continue producing PPE for the foreseeable future.
- Demand is down somewhat due to the significant number of units produced and alternative solutions. We still have a backlog at the moment, but the coalition has decided to move forward with production after all the outstanding needs are met (though new requests may continue to come in) in order to stockpile reserves for another potential wave of need.
- Thank you so much for all your support. These efforts have been extremely well received. Not only from the folks were delivering them to, but also from the community at large. Our efforts have been featured by 417 Magazine, Biz417, The Mystery Hour, the Springfield CVB, and others. We have also gotten tens of thousands of impressions on social media.
- Other Innovation Lab projects are progressing slowly but surely. I’m beginning to direct some of my attention to projects that are not related to PPE production, but for now this still remains my primary effort.