COVID-19 is not Rosalie Gordon’s first epidemic. She was just 5 ½ years old when she got polio, six months before the vaccine arrived. Paralyzed from the chest down, she endured four surgeries between the ages of 10 and 12, happily regaining the use of her legs. These days, Rosalie uses a wheelchair to get around. 

At The New Jewish Home, keeping a steady supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in stock is always important. Long before most of us had given much thought to masks, gowns, and gloves, Michael Jurist — vice president of facilities and material management — and his team made sure we had enough PPE on hand to keep our staff, residents and patients safe.

Each morning, Zoila O’Keefe loads her car with enough PPE (personal protective equipment) — masks, gloves, gowns — to protect herself and her patients throughout the day. She’s a home care nurse who sees between five and six patients daily in Westchester County, the Bronx, and Manhattan. These days, two or three of those visits are to COVID-19 survivors recovering at home after hospital stays.

Throughout New York City, a network of small DIY manufacturers have been stepping up to help solve the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage. They are sewing masks, building protective gear, and fabricating medical equipment needed to fight the spread of Covid-19.