Milwaukee, Wis. — Froedtert Health donated 50,000 masks and $20,000 for other supplies to five Federally Qualified Health Centers to support diverse communities hit the hardest by COVID-19. The masks and funding were divided among five area Federally Qualified Health Centers. The funds will be used to secure supplies such as disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and additional masks, especially for families who are in isolation due to a COVID-positive household member.
The donations were the result of ongoing outreach and partnerships with community health centers to determine what is needed most. Froedtert Health is committed to connecting and listening to the community, and through this process has come to understand the need for PPE in diverse communities. Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.
Froedtert Health works with nonprofits and community health centers to provide COVID-19 information, testing and supplies. We also provide other needed care such as cancer screenings, behavioral health, dental care and flu vaccinations.
The health centers that received the masks and funding donations are Milwaukee Health Services; Outreach Community Health Center; Progressive Community Health Centers-Lisbon Avenue Center; Ignace Indian Health Center and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.
During this holiday season, experts stress the importance of continuing practices to stop COVID-19: wear a mask over your mouth and nose in public, maintain distancing, wash your hands and stay away from others if you feel sick.