Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is crucial gear needed by every healthcare professional and first responder working on the frontlines of our national healthcare emergency. Unfortunately it’s in short supply, so it’s nice to see Disney step up with donations of masks and other protective gear from its theme parks warehouses.
Disney Parks has donated more than 100,000 N95 masks to the states of New York, California and Florida. These are the masks most in need by healthcare professionals right now.
Disney also recently donated 150,000 rain ponchos to MedShare, a humanitarian aid organization, for distribution to hospitals in need. According to Disney, “the idea was inspired by nurses across the country who inventively found that rain ponchos can be an excellent way to protect their clothing and prolong the use of PPE, while also freeing up gowns when needed.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Charles Redding, MedShare CEO and President. “We have to find ways to pool our resources and work together to help the healthcare workers who are doing their very best to treat patients and contain COVID-19. We appreciate Disney partnering with us to support hospitals and healthcare workers on the frontlines.”
While it’s a shame our healthcare workers don’t have the PPE they need, it’s nice to see Disney coming through here. And, who knows, seeing a Mickey Mouse adorning their nurses outfit might add a bit of cheer in an otherwise difficult time for sick patients.
According to the article on the Disney Parks Blog, the company continues to look for ways it can give back and support those fighting on the front lines of this important public health battle. In a very real way, the future of The Walt Disney Company depends on giving healthcare workers whatever support they need to end this crisis as early as possible so people get back to the parks and into the theaters.
Disney Parks already have provided nearly $3M in in-kind donations benefiting communities where its theme parks are located around the globe. This includes food donations from Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris.
Previously: Donations of perishable items made to local food banks by Disneyland and Walt Disney World.