Glasser/Schoenbaum is working with Bank of America to reach those in need.
This past year, with the CDC recommending face masks to ensure health and safety, it became clear that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a resource that must be available to all of our residents if we hope to narrow disparities in health equity.
But with an unstable supply chain for the skyrocketing demand of PPE, many in our local community are left without access to protection.
That is why The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center paired up with Bank of America to create a local supply chain of PPE. To date, this partnership has distributed 140,000 masks, 14,500 gloves, and 1,200 bottles of hand sanitizer to 33 local organizations over six months, and more shipments are on the way.
Bank of America sources and delivers the products to the nonprofit center, and Glasser/Schoenbaum activates its network to contact dozens of local human service nonprofits, clinics, neighborhood associations, and churches.
“We give PPE out when we have it available during our weekly food bank distribution,” says Mary Bryant, Secretary at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Newtown. She recently picked up a delivery at the Center, which is located across the street from the church. “People are always happy to receive it.”
Bank of America has been working with local partners like Glasser/Schoenbaum across the country to provide resources to vulnerable and underserved populations hardest hit by the coronavirus. Nationally, it has distributed more than 25 million masks, over 160,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and 4 million gloves since last summer, with a particular focus on local communities of color. This work is also connected to the bank’s $1 billion, four-year commitment of additional support to help address economic and racial inequalities accelerated by a global pandemic.
“It is vital that every individual in this community has the same access to protection and care so we may progress toward a recovery from the pandemic and a brighter future together,” said Mike McCoy, president, Bank of America Sarasota-Manatee. “One of the ways we continue to support communities in Sarasota-Manatee is by working with local partners to identify and distribute PPE masks to the most vulnerable populations, as well as the frontline workers, schools and food banks who serve them.”
The staff at Glasser/Schoenbaum have done a great job of connecting the many organizations on campus and creating a space that sparks collaboration. This sense of community extends to staff and clients alike, helping to break down barriers and leading to innovative ways to serve the community as a whole.
Real estate is one of the greatest costs in a business budget. Our partnership with The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center allows more money to go towards our mission. And what better place to house our office than on a campus with nineteen other outreach agencies.
As a small organization with a staff of two, employee safety was a big consideration when we were looking for office space. We did not want our employees to be in a place where they were alone. Being on the GSHSC campus has been great because there is a whole community of like-minded professionals.
