Donate masks, gloves, and other protective equipment

While staying home for all but essential activities is the most powerful activity you can do against COVID-19, you can also help support Berkeley's response to COVID-19 by donating masks, gowns, gloves, hand sanitizer, and other protective supplies to our emergency response.

We'll use the equipment to help support our firefighters, nurses, police and others as the need arises. This equipment reduces their exposure to the virus, which in turn reduces the spread and allows them to respond to more cases. While the City currently has adequate protective equipment, we want to prepare in case the duration and intensity of this pandemic overwhelms our supplies.

We are accepting donations personal protective equipment and other in-kind goods list below.

Items must be in sealed packages or unopened boxes. There is no minimum quantity.

• N-95 masks (expired masks accepted)
• Masks (isolation or surgical)
• Gowns (isolation or surgical)
• Gloves
• Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer (all sizes)
• Disinfectant wipes and sprays (bleach and peroxides)
• Face shields
• Shoe covers
• Goggles/eye protection
• Tyvek coveralls

Update: April 3, 2020: We are now also taking donations of new or used touchless tympanic thermometers, new digital ear thermometers, new digital ear thermometer probe covers, and new homemade cloth face masks.

If you are able to donate any of these items, please let us know by filling out our supplies donation form. We will follow up with any questions and to provide next steps.

If you're not sure whether your item is an appropriate type or model, leave a note in the comments section with additional detail.

We are not able to accept items not included on this list at this time. If you have other items to donate, reach out to local community organizations who may be able to accept the donation.

Protect our community with social distancing and healthy behaviors

You can make a difference even if you are not able to donate.

We all have powerful tools at our disposal to fight COVID-19. Simple, everyday behaviors make a tremendous impact when we all do them.

• Stay home when sick: If feel at all sick, stay home except to get medical care.
• Prepare for COVID-19 to touch your household: Make a plan now to care for yourself or members of your family if someone becomes ill.
• Practice social/physical distancing: Many people who are infected with COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms. But they can still spread the disease to others, even if they don't know they're sick. Minimize potential for spread by staying home as much as possible, not socializing in person with people you don't live with, and staying 6 feet away from other people when you're out.
• Wash your hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. That's about the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.
• Cover coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough, then immediately throw the tissue away and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cough into your elbow. Do not cough into your hands.

Visit cityofberkeley.info/covid19 for information, recommendations from Berkeley Public Health, and changes to City services.