Guttenberg, NJ – The Town of Guttenberg has delivered supplies of kn95 masks to caregivers at Alaris Health at Boulevard East. The delivery comes at a time when skilled nursing facilities across the state continue to experience shortages of essential protective gear that frontline workers need to keep themselves and their patients safe.

Mayor Wayne Zitt arranged the drop-off after hearing concerns from 1199SEIU nursing home workers about the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in Hudson County nursing facilities. “The community of Guttenberg stands ready to support our frontline healthcare workers who are protecting the lives of our town’s most vulnerable people,” said Mayor Zitt. “As we express our deepest admiration and gratitude to our healthcare heroes, we know that action is the best way to give thanks—providing caregivers with material support to get through this crisis and save lives.”

1199SEIU members Vicky Nieves and Rosa Arias were present to accept the delivery at the nursing home.

“We are very grateful to the Town of Guttenberg for delivering additional masks to our facility,” said Vicky, who works as a certified nursing aide at the nursing home. “As we give hands-on care to our patients, it is so important that we have access to fresh PPE to prevent the spread of illness.”

“I need to stay healthy for my patients, and also for my children,” said Rosa, a housekeeper. “These past months have been very stressful to all of us, but having more PPE gives us peace of mind that we are staying as safe as we can be.”

“1199SEIU is grateful for Guttenberg’s donation of masks to its frontline caregivers at Boulevard East,” said Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU. “We urge the leadership of every municipality in New Jersey to personally speak with nursing home workers in their community to better understand the crisis at hand and identify how to best support their needs. There is no time to waste as PPE shortages remain critical statewide.”

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New Jersey and nationwide. We represent over 16,000 healthcare families in New Jersey and over 400,000 total members throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.