DuPage Habitat donates personal protective equipment to Amita Health in response to COVID-19 pandemic

Staff from DuPage Habitat for Humanity in Wheaton delivered over a thousand units of personal protective equipment to Amita Health's LaGrange location, which will distribute the donation throughout the Amita Health network.

"The people working in emergency rooms are heroes putting themselves at risk to save lives. I feel we all have an obligation to do what we can to help protect them," Justin Lucas, the ReStore Corporate Relations Manager, said on Friday afternoon.

Lucas helped to coordinate the donation to Amita Health, where his fiancee works as an emergency room physician assistant.

DuPage Habitat donated a total of 600 containment suits and 600 pairs of chemical resistant exam gloves normally used by their construction teams and volunteers to Amita Health.

"I want to thank Habitat for Humanity for their generosity and for thinking of us during this time," said Amita Health emergency room Dr. Ted Patras. "It's rough on everyone, whether you are a health care worker or people who are at home in the community. It's especially tough on (health care workers) and we're running low on supplies and something like this goes a long way. We can't thank you enough. Everyone of us appreciates it."

DuPage Habitat joins dozens of local Habitat affiliates across the country who have answered the call from the medical community for personal protection equipment as supplies dwindle and the rate of infection increases daily.

They are calling on the local construction community to check their warehouses and work trucks, just like they did.

"DuPage Habitat has been providing support to people in need for 25 years," said Dave Neary, DuPage Habitat for Humanity Executive Director. "There is no greater time of need than right now, and we want to support the brave individuals who are on the front lines.

"Donating PPE is a small part to play. Still, we will continue to do whatever we can to help protect the community in the fight against the novel coronavirus," Neary said.