FITCHBURG, Mass. — Rebecca DeCoteau has been on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 at the DCU Center Field Hospital in Worcester since it reopened in early December. Over the summer, she also worked at the Boston Hope Field Hospital.
“Hearing patients saying why they’re there and how they got there is really eye-opening and humbling,” she said.
DeCoteau said seeing some patients without any extra clothing also caught her eye and tugged at her heart.
“Some people lived in rooming houses or live alone and didn’t have support systems at home, so there is a lot of need across the state,” she said.
The 29-year-old registered nurse from Fitchburg recently launched a charity organization called Nurses For Hope. She said a number of patients are homeless and often have very little clothing. So DeCoteau and a few co-workers collect clothing for those patients so they can be warm once they’re discharged.
“Most of the things were new or hardly used. Just basic things and people were so happy because getting stuff in there was difficult for people having family members bring stuff because they came from all over the state,” DeCoteau said.
The items most in need are toiletries, new men’s and women’s underwear, warm socks, winter hats, scarves, gloves and hand sanitizer.
“You know, when they go into the hospital they’re not thinking about well should I bring some soap, should I bring some an extra change of clothes? Sometimes you don’t have the ability to do that,” DeCoteau said.
The response has been so great, DeCoteau plans to expand and donate to food pantries. She will host a clothing donation drop-off at the North Central Family Support Center at 1460 John Fitch Highway in Fitchburg on Monday, February 8 from 1-3 p.m.
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