In a letter to the West Central Tribune, the Rice Health Foundation Board of Trustees shared some of what is facing Carris Health and how the board, and the public, can help.

Carris Health is expecting higher-than-normal expenses due to COVID-19. Needed supplies, when they can be found, cost much more than normal, due to supply and demand. The board’s letter said it could cost the health system millions of dollars to get the needed supplies and be ready for any influx of COVID-19 patients.

At the same time Carris Health has been hit by declining revenue due to the cancellation and postponement of elective procedures and low census numbers.

To help Carris Health meet the challenges it is facing, the Rice Health Foundation has set up the COVID-19 Emergency Fund and has contributed $120,000 to it. The funds will be used to purchase COVID-19 supplies and medical equipment, provide meals to staff who remain on campus to provide care and to meet other high-priority needs to support the direct care of COVID-19 patients and others in the community.

The foundation board is inviting those in the public, who are able, to make a donation to the fund. Donations can be made online at www.ricehealthfoundation.org or by mailing a check to 301 Becker Ave. S.W., Willmar. Those with questions or looking for more information can call 320-231-4141 or email RmhFoundation@carrishealth.com.

“The impact of COVID-19 on us as individuals, a community, state and country, cannot be overstated. We are fortunate to have local access to health care, especially during this pandemic. Our thanks and appreciation go to all health care workers for making the sacrifice to not only meet our everyday health needs, but also prepare and maintain a state of readiness to care for those who may become infected in our area,” the board’s letter said.