What can you do with nearly 900 empty McDonald’s cardboard sandwich boxes? Blessing Health System caregivers use them to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After seeing an internet video that demonstrated how to use an empty McDonald’s sandwich box to put on an N95 respirator mask without touching and contaminating it, Blessing nurses asked leadership to contact Greg Shierling, owner of the Quincy McDonald’s at 13th and Broadway, to ask him if he would donate some boxes for the purpose.
Shierling had 880 empty Big Mac boxes delivered to Blessing Hospital.
N95 masks are a key piece of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in the COVID-19 response, and in short supply worldwide. By using the sandwich boxes, Blessing staff do not touch the mask with their hands, extending it useful life.
Another area resident, Amethyst Zelle, made and donated to Blessing special headbands with large buttons situated above a person’s ears. The top band of the N95 mask can be hooked around the buttons instead of the caregiver’s ears, protecting them from irritation.
In addition to the skill and compassion of many people who sewed masks as part of larger groups and whose individual names are not known, dozens of organizations and individuals have generously given PPE, food for staff and financial donations to Blessing’s COVID-19 response. Following is a list of those organization and people as of April 23, 2020:
Gifts-in-Kind (food / PPE):
- Carl’s Shoes
- Expressions by Christine’s
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Sara Heinecke
- Jaime & Teresa Gonzales
- Gates Air
- Awerkamp Machine Co
- Lowe’s
- Harbor Freight
- Jessica Foster
- Sherwin-Williams
- Erin and Andy Johnson
- Sam’s Club
- Simply Lovely Salon
- ILMO Products
- Quincy Farm & Home
- Jerry and Cathleen Koch
- Kyle and Tracy Mountain
- Chris and Elizabeth Ormond
- Tyler and Dawn Koch
- Michelle Duesterhaus
- Bobbi Peters
- Ashley Neisen
- Jeanna Rottman
- Monica Maple
- Legacy Martial Arts / Robert and Anna Bentley
- Qdoba
- Pop’s Pizza
- Rokusek Design
- Renee’s Place
- Little Greek
- Papa John’s Pizza
- The Abbey
- World Finance
- Home Depot
- Subway
- Cathy Brogdon
- Gardner Denver
- Kelly’s Restaurant
- Tower of Pizza
- G.G. Steinbach
- Paws at Home Veterinary Care
- SM Wilson
- Mike and Sally Blickhan
- Dave and Kim Buck
- McDonald’s at 1301 Broadway - Greg Shierling
- Park Place
- Augusta Farmers Cooperative
- Entrup Drywall
- Jamie White
- Stephanie Hodgson
- Fuji Steakhouse
- Alex and Montanna Altmix
- Amethyst Zelle
- Matt Tranor
- Quincy Country Club
- Bob Daly
- Mike and Angie Williams
- Gallaher Insurance
- Marcus Buckingham Company
- Krazy Cakes
Cash donations
- Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri
- Dave and Ginny Kater
- Mohamed and Zakiah Ali
- Shirley Murphy
- Lester Kewney
- Sue Zinn
- Eleanor Yackley
- Norma Crossland
- Brad and Bonnie Billings
- Donna McCain
- Carol Espejo and John DeGuzman
- Thom and Cindy Drieselman
- Jan Wiemelt
- Barbra Espey
- Pete and Mary Jane Rischar
- Gray Hunter Stenn, LLP
- Local Union 25 Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Anonymous Donor