How crowdfunding empowers individuals during these unprecedented times.
#PledgeToProtect
Written by: Eddie Lee, President, Pledgecamp
In an ideal scenario, institutions and hospitals would have been fully prepared to protect the medical workers fighting COVID-19. A severe national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) has made it clear that this is not the case.
Some examples:
- 60 Minutes: Sick Doctors, Nurses and Not Enough Equipment: NYC Health Care Workers on the Fight Against the Coronavirus
- NY Times: Nurses Die, Doctors Fall Sick and Panic Rises on Virus Front Lines
- VOX: The Mask Shortage is Forcing Health Workers to Disregard Basic Infection Control
- The Guardian: Doctors Lacking PPE ‘bullied’ Into Treating COVID-19 Patients
- and many more…
Online crowdfunding rose to prominence after the 2008 financial crisis because institutions failed to serve the needs of everyday people. In the midst of today’s crisis, crowdfunding once again can empower ordinary people to step up where institutions fall short:
- Crowdfunding harnesses the collective power of individuals to address community needs
- Crowdfunding can direct funds and PPE to hospitals whose sourcing teams are overwhelmed, underfunded, or simply overlooked by government
- Crowdfunding organizers can deliver PPE directly to hospital storerooms without bureaucracy or politics getting in the way
- Individuals who want to do more than just social-distance and wash their hands can make an impact with only an internet connection
How We’re Crowdfunding to Fight COVID-19
Pledgecamp is a newly-launched crowdfunding platform taking on incumbents like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Because of the pandemic, we have paused all commercial projects to focus on a single, non-profit campaign to supply PPE to hospitals.
By donating to this campaign, any individual can make an impact in the fight against COVID-19. Unlike other relief efforts, Pledgecamp publishes exactly how much PPE will be delivered and their costs, right on the campaign page.
Another differentiating factor, Pledgecamp lets some donors sponsor a specific hospital of their choice. For a minimum contribution of 100 KN95 respirator masks, donors can support any hospital they may have a personal connection to, including local hospitals that could be overlooked by other relief efforts.
Crowdfunding is not the end-all solution to COVID-19. But in an imperfect world, crowdfunding lets everyone be individual heroes. Let us all do our part and get through this together.
Interested in Donating?
100% of funds will go to PPE for hospitals. Visit the campaign, here.
Connect with us: hello@pledgecamp.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pledgecamp
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pledgecamp
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pledgecamp
