Back in March when the Coronavirus began appearing in the Coachella Valley, Dr. Richard Loftus, an infectious disease expert, realized the vast quantity of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that was going to be needed in order to protect the frontline medical providers at local hospitals, nursing homes, health clinics, and social service organizations. He sounded the bells, raised his voice, and called some friends. One of the first people he called was local activist Shelley Blume who he has worked with helping the homeless. She and her friend Kay Gerhardt asked, “what do you need?” Dr. Loftus replied PPE and lots of it. Shelley and Kay began making a pattern for medical masks that required no sewing.
Within hours, Dr. Loftus contacted Chris Parman with the City of Cathedral City and asked if the City could make a video with Shelley and Kay that could inform people of the need for masks and help recruit volunteers. Chris Parman contacted CCTV Host Conrad Angel Corral to see if he would be willing to offer his support during a pandemic. Conrad replied, “You Bet!” Later that Saturday, Chris and Conrad filmed a video of Shelley Blume demonstrating how to make a mask for local doctors and nurses without having to sew a single stitch. The video received nearly 10,000 views on YouTube and 10,000 views on Facebook. The group’s goal of 200 volunteers making 5 masks a day turned into over 1,000 people calling Shelley and Kay to volunteer including Judith Britt, who organized several large groups at various country clubs throughout the Coachella Valley.
At the same time, Dr. Loftus contacted a local celebrity friend, Lucie Arnaz. He said, Lucie, I need your help recruiting people to make masks and gowns or we are going to be in big trouble. Lucie replied, “Whatever you need, I’m there for you!” She began calling trusted friends who are in the entertainment industry including costume makers and designers from local entertainment venues, such as CVRep Playhouse and The Purple Room. They began ramping up PPE production of their own at the 500 Building in Palm Springs.
Over a short amount of time, the two groups realized their separate existences and combined forces to help our frontline workers. Each group called in their volunteers and donors and the result was approximately 1,400 volunteers that produced more than 90,000 masks and 20,000 medical gowns to protect Coachella Valley frontline healthcare workers.
All of this happened because one doctor reached out to people he knew who had different life skills and networks and said, “Can you help?” They each answered his call, went to work, and helped save lives in the Coachella Valley. This is a prime example of how we are in this together!
