Afya, a Yonkers-based nonprofit which delivers medical supplies to underserved locations globally, has formed a partnership to assist New York Federally Qualified Health Centers in Westchester County and New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is about AFYA’s ability to respond to any need, anywhere,” according to Danielle Butin, founder and CEO of The Afya Foundation, which recovers medical supplies and diverts them from local landfills Afya sorts and prepares the supplies for shipment to many countries, from Wuhan, China to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Now Afya has joined in the domestic effort in New York.

“We are helping locally where help is needed,” Butin said. “Our shipments are possible because of our remarkable partners, UJA- Federation of New York and Regeneron. They are helping us to pack and send truckloads of supplies from our warehouse to local sites in need of supplies as rapidly as possible.”

There is a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers in New York City and Westchester County who have submitted lists of essential and necessary health items that are needed to provide safe healthcare. The Hudson River Health Care Center in Peekskill has agreed to serve as the key donation site, and will coordinate distribution and sharing of supplies with other FQHCs in the region. Harlem United, a long-term partner of Afya, will receive pallets of supplies to support their ability to deliver primary and diagnostic care to their local catchment area.

“This is a call to action,” Butin continued. “We have experienced health emergencies in many places near and far. Now it is our time, in New York, to respond.”

ABOUT AFYA FOUNDATION

The Afya Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals throughout the world who suffer needlessly due to a lack of access to basic medical supplies and equipment. Afya collectssurplus medical supplies, hospital equipment and humanitarian provisions from health care facilities, businesses and private donors to support both on-going and disaster-related initiatives. Since its founding in 2008, Afya has recovered and shipped more than seven and half million pounds of donated supplies to more than 72 countries. The organization has been recognized by the Greater New York Hospital Association, Eli Lilly, GreatNonprofits and the United Nations.

For more information on Afya Foundation, please go to www.afyafoundation.org.