Hundreds of volunteers from the community needed to support an Alternative Care Site in Delaware County

Up to 700 volunteers are needed to support an Alternative Care Site at the Glen Mills School in Delaware County. The site, currently being set up by members of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, National Guard and the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services will serve as a medical facility specifically for patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19, but are being treated for low-acuity conditions at regional hospitals, in the event that a hospital is full treating COVID-19 patients.

The Alternative Care Site will be staffed by professionals from participating Health Care Systems and supported by volunteers from across the region.

There is an urgent need for volunteers including:

Active and retired medical and healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and veterinarians

Medical and nursing students

Behavioral Health professionals

Support, Administrative and Logistic Staff

Citizen Corps of Delaware County

Volunteers will be providing patient care for patients with low-acuity conditions from regional hospitals. The site will not be used to treat patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“There is a critical need for volunteers to serve their community as we face this pandemic together,” said Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek. “We are fortunate to a have a safe location for our family members, friends and neighbors to go, where they can receive medical care in the event that our hospitals become over-run with COVID-19 emergencies. There has been a great deal of collaboration to bring this facility to Delaware County and now we are leaning on our community to come together and volunteer.”

Residents can serve their community during a very critical time. This is a global pandemic and America has had the opportunity to learn from other countries and act swiftly on measures to mitigate the virus and protect Americans. Other countries have been successful in utilizing hundreds of thousands of volunteers in their efforts to fight COVD-19. Countries with a robust volunteer response have had success in flattening the curve and controlling the virus.

"During this unprecedented challenge, we need residents to step-up and help where they can,” said Chairman Zidek. “We are all impacted by COVID-19 and we need to work together and fight this together. Many residents have been asking how they can help. This is your chance. This is an opportunity to serve your community when the need is great.”

Volunteers can register on the Delaware County Citizen Corps website: www.delcocitizencorps.com/

Click on the blue “volunteer” button.