EAST HARTFORD – Just one day after issuing a call to the public for individuals, businesses and organizations to donate personal protective equipment to local hospitals if possible, State Senators Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) and Will Haskell (D-Westport) today lauded East Hartford construction distributor NEFCO Corporation for its generous donation of 5,000 N95 respirators to Hartford Hospital. Senators Anwar and Haskell thanked NEFCO leaders for their important actions and asked other businesses with similar resources to do the same if they are able.
NEFCO is a multi-generational family business that has had its roots deeply planted in the Hartford community for the last 40 years.
“I grew up in Hartford, I raised my family in Hartford, and we built our business in Hartford,” said NEFCO CEO David Gelles. “On behalf of the Gelles family and the broader NEFCO family of 350 associates, we are honored to play a role in supporting the heroic nurses, doctors, and first responders as they fight against this awful virus.”
“We are in this together, and I am so happy to hear NEFCO Corporation is supporting local hospitals through this generous donation,” said Sen. Haskell. “Personal protective equipment is in short supply in many local hospitals, and actions like these will help health care professionals treat COVID-19 patients. I hope any other businesses that can join them will take the opportunity.”
“I am so proud of NEFCO Corporation for stepping up and making this donation,” said Sen. Anwar. “Doctors and nurses on the front lines at Hartford Hospital will now have additional protection to preserve their health and help reduce strain on the health care system. If anyone else can do the same, I ask them to follow suit.”
In addition to NEFCO Corporation’s donations, Governor Ned Lamont announced Monday that Gil’s Drywall of Plainville and PW Power Systems of Glastonbury both provided N95 respirators to the state Department of Public Health, which will then distribute them to hospitals in need.
Businesses with supplies available for donation should contact the Department of Public Health to see the best ways to make such donations. The Department of Public Health has created an online form for members of the public, businesses and philanthropic organizations interested in making these donations at www.211ct.org/DonationsCOVID19. The state is partnering with nonprofit United Way 2-1-1 of Connecticut to collect information and supplies.
Some hospitals, including Hartford Healthcare, have created informational lines to coordinate drop off times; those in Hartford County can email COVIDDonations@HHCHealth.org to coordinate such a drop-off to Hartford Healthcare institutions.