Many individuals, groups and businesses from the community have generously offered to help assist in our preparedness efforts to fight COVID-19. Below are a few ways you can help make a difference.
Protect yourself and others
The most important thing you can do to help health care workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and across the city and state is to help us slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in our region. This is critical to keeping manageable the number of people who become ill with COVID-19 and require hospital care.
We encourage you to stay informed and follow the directions of public health officials and the Metro Safer at Home order. Visit coronavirus.gov for more information about how to protect yourself and your family.
Donate blood
The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Please help us do our job by making an appointment to give at https://www.redcrossblood.org/.
Donate money
Our COVID-19 Fund provides the flexibility to meet greatest needs in patient care and research to fight the pandemic. Donate now.
Our COVID-19 Caregiver Support Fund provides doctors, nurses and staff on the front lines with child care, housing and equipment. Donate now.
Donate personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand-sewn face masks
Vanderbilt University Medical Center has an adequate supply of PPE currently on hand to protect its employees and patients from COVID-19. However, the global supply for this equipment continues to be uncertain and we are actively taking steps to secure more supplies.
We are accepting donations of hand-sewn face masks and PPE including N95 face masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns and exam gloves.
If you would like to donate face masks or PPE, email volunteer.services@vumc.org.
For more information about hand-sewn face masks, see the instructions for hand-sewn face masks.
Donate food
If you would like to donate food for our staff, we encourage you to use a local business so you can help our Nashville neighbors at the same time. Food must be commercially prepared and individually packaged for individual distribution. We cannot accept buffet-style meals.
Meal donations are scheduled at 12:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. to accommodate both day and night shifts. To schedule a donation, email volunteer.services@vumc.org.
Scheduled meal drop-off for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
You will drop your food donation with a Patient and Family Centered Care team member in the South Garage on the 4th floor. Parking spots are reserved on this floor for donation deliveries.
Scheduled meal drop-off for Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital
You will drop your food donation with a member of the Volunteer Services team at the entrance to the VUH Lobby Valet Drop Off on Medical Center Drive.
More details about our food donation guidelines.