CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Clinic is getting some assistance from a nearby agency. Vocational Guidance Services, a workforce development agency for adults with disabilities, is using its resources to help local healthcare heroes.
The company has been producing dress pants for women in the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corp for the last 30 years, but as the coronavirus crisis ramps up, production has been put on hold.
- VGS is now making PPE for the Cleveland Clinic
- The company has already made more than 3,000 masks
- Workers produce about 800 masks a day
Instead of making military dress pants, the sewing department has shifted its focus to making personal protective equipment, also known as PPE, for the Cleveland Clinic.
"We try to be a good neighbor and a good community partner and part of that is when bad things happen, you step forward and offer your services and abilities to be part of whatever that fight is," said Susie Barragate, President/CEO, Vocational Guidance Services.
VGS was granted approval by the federal government to delay making slacks. With a team of about 26 people, more than 3,000 masks have already been made. About 800 masks are produced a day.
"The masks will be worn by medical providers, but they are not N95s, so secondary providers, probably not people in the very front line, but certainly people around them," said Barragate.
The company says it will continue to help area hospitals and healthcare professionals for as long as it's needed.
"With what we know about the need for PPE equipment for the next 12 to 18 months, we stand ready to help and assist any way we can by sewing those PPE items for first responders and hospitals," said Barragate.