Micah Gursky, director of development for St. Luke’s Miners campus in Coaldale, teamed up with state Sen. David G. Argall to find local organizations willing to donate supplies.

Gursky had been looking for people willing to donate when he received a phone call from Argall.

Jack Rich Inc. and Panther Creek Energy in Nesquehoning, had both reached out to the senator asking if there was a local hospital that needed donations, which is what led them to St. Luke’s.

“One of the good things that’s happening with this terrible crisis is that people are coming together,” Argall said. “From talking to Micah, I know that all of this stuff will really come in handy.

“It is wonderful to see these regional coal and power companies step up to help out with St. Luke’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is of the utmost importance at this moment in time that we do everything we can to support our brave health care workers who are on the front lines of this fight. I would like to commend all four of the companies who donated their supplies today.”

The donation drop-off was made Thursday at noon.

Nathan Gerace, district staff assistant of Congressman Dan Meuser, was in attendance on behalf of the congressman, whom also helped to arrange the meeting between the organizations and the hospital.

“The congressman has been great, and we’ve had several conversations with him personally about what our needs are,” Gursky said. “He’s been really responsive with not just the hospital needs, but the needs of the community.”

Matt Cochran, representing Panther Creek, and Jamie Barton, vice president of Jack Rich Inc., arrived with donations as well.

All parties met near the hospital sign on Route 209, because Gursky saw no reason to bring them up to the hospital until it was necessary.

In fact, Gursky said, the hospital is currently recommending that people stay home unless hospitalization is absolutely needed.

The two organizations donated personal protective equipment including gowns, gloves and masks, including a few N-100 masks, which are high quality and preferred, though the hospital is accepting masks of any kind.

“We actually have people who are hand-making cloth masks,” Gursky said. “But when our front-line patients are having direct patient care, those N-95s or N-100s are really what they need to be wearing.”

He said since there is a nationwide and worldwide shortage of those masks, every mask helps.