Take 5 to Give $5: Huntsville foundation supplies protective equipment

Take 5 to Give $5: Huntsville foundation supplies frontline workers with protective equipment

To c-d-c guidelines when they do reopen.

Every day - waay 31 is highlighting one of the local organizations that's getting help from the greater huntsville community foundation through the "take 5 to give 5 campaign."

Today - we explain how the huntsville hospital foundation is ensuring that front-line care givers are protected while working around those exposed to the coronavirus after being a nurse at huntsville hospital for 32 years ...joyce thomas realizes that working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic are now just apart of her new normal.

Joyce--you just get into that cycle and in that work load that this is a job that has to be done and this is what we have to do.

Each day she's at different locations testing those who think they might have been exposed to the coronavirus .

But as an emergency preparedness manager, she's been training for this moment.

Joyce--we had just had a highly infectious disease exercise just prior to break out last summer.

So we practiced our negative pressure equipment room in the e.d and the work flow and transition of an ems patient into the highly infectious disease unit.

The huntsville hospital foundation realized front line workers needed additional personal protective equipment while working during the pandemic.

They applied for the community foundation of greater huntsville's emergency relief fund to help pay for the equipment.

Joyce--and that's a comforting feeling is to know that you have the adequate equipment to do your job, so you don't have to worry about that because you can just do your job.

Huntsville hospital foundation president sarah savage-jones says the grant will also help pay for fever and flu clincs in different communities, so people can get tested ... plus, they're supporting quarantined employees.

Sarah -- if someone is exposed to covid on the job, and they have to be quarantined then we will help to make sure they are provided for financially.

This is a job thomas still loves and despite the stressful moments, she remembers one thing.

This is a difficult time for everybody, and you feel like, i did my part.

I was able to put in that little piece that keeps the wheel turning and we care for the patients.

The take 5 give 5 campaign all leads up to giving tuesday- which falls on 5/5 or may 5th.

Here's how you can get involved.

Go to our homepage on waay tv dot com.

You'll see an article with the "take 5 to give 5" logo you see on your screen.

There you can find a link to donate any amount.

We've raised more than 289- thousand dollars since last week!

The money will go to organizations supporting those impacted by the coronavirus.