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Forty boxes of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies were delivered to critical nonprofits throughout Washington Parish and the Northshore region by the Northshore Community Foundation this week thanks to a $10,000 donation from the nation’s largest privately-held medical supplier and distributor Medline Industries located in Covington. Medline’s team has been working around the clock since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to get critical supplies to healthcare facilities to help treat virus victims and stop its spread.

Brilliant Mindz Community Center and the YMCA of Bogalusa were just two of the Washington Parish nonprofits who received the PPE boxes valued at nearly $250 each. Face masks, gloves, a touchless infra-red thermometer, bleach, disinfectant, sanitizing wipes and cleaning supplies, as well as a huge bottle of hand sanitizer were among the items included in the box to help these organizations reopen and safely resume serving.

“With all that is going on we cannot believe that the Foundation thought of us and our struggle to reopen while staying safe. We are truly blessed to have this partnership for our organization and for our community,” said Dana Walker, executive director of Brilliant Mindz in Bogalusa.

“As a longtime member of this community, Medline is proud to stand with the Northshore Community Foundation and organizations on the frontlines helping those who need it most,” said Nick Latino, Medline’s director of operations. “Our Parish has a network of organizations performing a critically important role to help those impacted by COVID-19. It is essential they have the protective equipment needed to help others operate safely.”

The Northshore Community Foundation activated its Northshore Emergency Relief Fund in early April to deal directly with the emerging crisis in the region and has distributed nearly $375,000 to meet the most critical needs.

Medline has been serving hospitals and nursing homes on the Northshore and in the southern U.S. from their distribution center in Covington for more than 15 years.