Ghostwritten Announcement
Written announcement on the decision to wind down operations of the successful grassroots non-profit, Get Us PPE.
In March 2020, we formed Get Us PPE in response to a crisis.
We did this to address two serious problems. First, we committed to filling a crucial leadership gap by developing a coalition of hundreds of dedicated volunteers who believed in the mission to distribute PPE to those who needed it most. Early in the pandemic, the stockpiles were insufficient. Get Us PPE helped locate donated PPE supply, matched PPE donations with requests and distributed PPE free of charge, utilizing our grassroots organization of physicians, scientists, engineers, technologists, and concerned citizens.
Second, the unwavering, unprecedented and near-instant demand for PPE caught the manufacturing and distribution sectors unprepared. Get Us PPE jumped into action, acquiring PPE from a variety of sources and then distributing it to those who needed it most.
Since, we have delivered more than 14 million+ essential safety items to nurses, doctors, teachers, and other care providers from the Navajo Nation to San Diego, and beyond.
This decision, like all the critical ones we have made, is informed by science, data projections and trends around our numbers of requests. Also with accelerated vaccine distribution, the re-establishment of PPE supply chains, and a more proactive government response, the gaps we targeted with our mission are now being filled.
Get Us PPE has been distinguished from the start by our development and use of technology, including our Fair Distribution Algorithm, utilized to support a core element of our mission which has always been to align available supplies with areas of greatest need. As a result, Get Us PPE’s response went beyond major hospitals to focus on smaller clinics, senior care providers, homeless shelters, schools and other facilities largely excluded from a stressed supply chain.
It’s difficult to imagine that a little over a year ago it would have been challenging to understand how necessary an organization like Get Us PPE would be. However, we are proud to have played an important role in helping healthcare providers and had the opportunity to raise awareness of the PPE crisis during the pandemic. From the beginning, we’ve advocated for the protection of frontline and essential workers at congressional hearings and alongside congressional representatives as we advocated for more robust and transparent data collection around PPE needs
Doing this work has been at different times, heart-breaking, frightening, and also uplifting. The incredible bravery of frontline workers has inspired more than 40,000 donors, hundreds of volunteers, and scores of organizational partners. Collectively, we have insisted upon – and delivered – basic protections for those at the greatest risk.
On behalf of the many frontline workers whom we have helped to protect, we want to thank all of our generous partners for their support throughout this most difficult year. The pandemic has been a tragedy for many people, but at the same time we’ve seen people at their best – helping each other simply because of our common humanity and the greater good. At Get Us PPE we share your optimism and excitement as society moves into post-pandemic life. It has been our honor to help.
Sincerely,
Shikha Gupta, Executive Director
Get Us PPE Board of Advisors
