Someone whom I love dearly provides an essential service. She and her team are on the front lines of those who are meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. They know the risks and are taking them anyway.
That would normally be as much or more than we can ask of anyone, but now that we have a global pandemic, they have become heroic. They are continuing to do their work in exceptional circumstances with declining supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). In some cases, those supplies have become exhausted.
If you, or anyone you know, has recently bought more of these items than they can use in the next month, you can help. The need includes, but is not limited to, hand sanitizer, N95 masks, vinyl gloves, and disinfecting wipes.
The panic we all felt at the beginning of this crisis caused some of us to overbuy. The problem is that the supply chain is taking a while to catch up. It will be a couple of weeks or more before some of that equipment becomes readily available again, and the people at the front lines are having to go without.
The team I am thinking about has tried to buy the necessary ingredients to make their own hand sanitizer, but rubbing alcohol has disappeared from all the local store shelves.
Some people are hand-sewing masks, and that is appreciated. They may not be N95 standard, but they will be much better than nothing.
So, no matter where you live, if you know of a supply of any of these items that could be put to good use by essential service providers, please pass them along. You will be able to restock later, but they need them now.
Many thanks.
Snowbird of Paradise 
I heard predicted by Dr Fauci that there might be as many as 2,000,000 Covid-19 cases in the USA with possibly 200,000 deaths by the time all is said and done. I was watching Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. Her program focused on the shortages of the things you mention and I know store shelves here are empty of paper products and hand sanitizer seems to exist no longer. The USA has a governmental Problem as we know and his idiotic actions are helping nobody. However your heart speaks the truth Anne. Folks who have hoarded the sanitizers and masks and hospitals who are holding on to ventilators when they do not yet need them and seem unaware that vents can be shared with hospitals in dire need are showing the under belly, the truly dark ugly America. I also plead for people to share, donate necessary safety equipment including PPE’s to hospitals. We are living in uncharted territory and now is not the time to become selfish.
I understand why people bought more than they needed at first, but as time has gone on we now know that the supply chain is not able to keep up with the demand.
We are so used to seeing those shelves restocked every day, it probably never occurred to some people that that would not continue to happen.
My hope is that, as people begin to realize where that equipment is most urgently needed, they will pass on some of their stockpile.
I went to Walmart this morning for the *senior* time. On Tuesday they open at 6 for anyone 60 and older so we can shop. I got everything on my list , the shelves were being stocked as I approached the pharmacy isle an employee was un-boxing hand sanitizer she asked if I wanted one. I was going to decline but I only have a 2 oz at home and I don’t plan on coming back for 2-3 weeks. Almost everyone in the store was wearing a mask, I wore gloves and subconsciously I believe we were 6 feet apart while shopping. I wonder if we are going to become a society that has to wear masks. But to make my point it was the 1st time shopping that I didn’t feel stressed or rushed.
I’m glad you didn’t feel stressed at the store, Sue. I do think we should all be wearing masks right now, but there aren’t enough available yet. I’m very happy to hear that sanitizer is finding its way back to the shelves!
Anne, Troubled Monk Brewery in Red Deer is making hand sanitizer, apparently with a recipe approved by WHO. Here is their web-site. I don’t know whether they’re able to keep up with orders though:
https://troubledmonk.com/cleanser/
How are you faring?
This is good. Yesterday K went looking for rubbing alcohol to make hand sanitizer and after going into several stores was able to find only one bottle. I hope that the producers are able to increase the supply.
I am doing well, but will be glad when my period of quarantine is over. I miss going for walks.
Hang in there. Glad to hear that you’re doing well.
I have passed on your link to J. I think it would be well worth a drive to Red Deer.
Looks like they will deliver to Edmonton. Have her check that out.
Oh. that’s good to know. Thanks, Nancy.