In a March 27 tweet, President McCartney announced that Smith, in partnership with Cooley Dickinson Hospital, is donating on-campus housing “to support the hospital’s needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Along with that, the school is also donating supplies to the City of Northampton – including 250 cots and 80 meals per day – to support the local homeless population.
According to Stacey Schmeidel, Director of Media Relations at Smith, Cooley Dickinson has not yet needed to use the on-campus housing donation. As per the terms in the partnership, if the hospital has to resort to on-campus housing, Smith employees would not be responsible for any upkeep or operations of houses used. Schmeidel further added that there is an ongoing discussion between Smith and the hospital as to how the on-campus housing donation could be used.
Smith is not alone in its proactivity during the pandemic. Along with Smith, other four colleges in the consortium have pitched in with vital supplies and resources. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that UMASS is producing supplies such as ventilator parts and face shield frames for neighboring hospitals’ and clinics’ use. Amherst College, Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke college are all donating, among other things, gloves, masks, sanitizers, N95 masks and other protective equipment to various health care providers.
