FAYETTEVILLE -- A newly formed task force is asking for contributions of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment for local public safety workers.
The NWA Covid-19 Task Force is made up of school, city, county, state, fire, police and first-responder representatives, according to a news release.
Dropoff locations
• Fayetteville Fire Station No. 1, 303 W. Center St.: Donations can be left inside the entry from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Rogers Police Department, 1905 S. Dixieland Road: Donations can be left inside the Community Room from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Springdale Fire Station No. 1, 417 N. Holcomb St.: Donations can be left at the first floor main entrance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Source: NWA Covid-19 Task Force
The group has held virtual meetings since March 16. Monday's meeting drew more than 120 officials from Benton and Washington counties, Rogers Fire Chief Tom Jenkins said.
Jenkins received calls from people who want to donate items, and this effort will centralize donations instead of coming in piecemeal across the two counties.
There's limited availability of personal protective equipment because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the release.
"While the federal government has begun funneling protective equipment supplies, our area is receiving very little. All hospitals, clinics, and first-responder stations have little if any of what they need to protect their workers," Rose Corscadden, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance communications director, said.
Sheep Dog is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Rogers, according to its website. The group's mission is to engage military and first-responders through participation in disaster response missions and outdoor adventures.
The task force, in collaboration with Sheep Dog, will gather: alternative cleaning solutions, Clorox or PDI wipes, digital thermometers, exam gloves, eye protection, face shields, gowns, hand sanitizer, isolation gowns, masks, N95 masks, plastic gowns, protective coveralls (cotton, Tyvek or similar material), homemade cotton masks, shoe covers and surgical masks.
Corscadden said gift cards for fuel, food and groceries also will be accepted. All donations will be distributed to Northwest Arkansas public safety personnel, she said.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Monday he expects Arkansas to receive $1.25 billion from the coronavirus aid legislation passed by Congress last week for needs such as adding hospital capacity and buying ventilators and protective medical gear.
Fayetteville Fire Chief Brad Hardin said local fire departments are pretty well equipped, and the drive for supplies is to stay ahead of any potential shortfall. The donated items would also help local first responders and hospitals, Hardin said.
Personal protective equipment is becoming harder to obtain, not just in the area, but across the country, he said.
Doctors, nurses and other front-line medical workers across the United States are confronting a shortage of masks, surgical gowns and eye gear to protect them from the virus, according to The New York Times.
"It's an unprecedented time," Hardin said. "You can't buy anything -- gowns, masks."
There will be limited public contact at the drop off locations, according to the release. Donations should include a note of what was donated and the name of the donor so contributors can be recognized.
The drive will go on indefinitely, Jenkins said.
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette also will host a donation drive to benefit local health care workers, according to a company news release.
Equipment such as masks, rubber gloves and protective eyewear are in short supply for the nurses and doctors taking care of infected patients, the release stated.
Donations can be dropped off at the company's offices at 3113 N. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville, 3593 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville, 809 S. 52nd St. in Rogers and 200 Progress Ave. No. 90 in Siloam Springs. All donations will be given to local hospitals, according to the company's release.
More information can be found at cbhmfevents.com.
NW News on 04/02/2020