As efforts are being made to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, giving across the community is spreading freely.

The Powell Medical Foundation provided $28,000 to Powell Valley Healthcare for supplies and a new, $7,000 Vapotherm.

Foundation Executive Director Megan Pfefferle expressed her gratitude to donors for making the gift possible.

“Because of the generosity from the community to the foundation, we’re able to do this to support PVHC,” Pfefferle said.

Arleen Campeau, PVHC chief nursing officer, said the Vapotherm machine “delivers hi flow oxygen under pressure for patients with respiratory issues. It is often used to try and keep the patient off of a ventilator.”

The equipment, Campeau explained, has been around for at least 10 years and is a non-invasive treatment. That’s unlike ventilators, which require a tube to be inserted through the airway — a process called intubation.

Patients with COVID-19 are among the respiratory patients that the machine could help.

“Some of the current studies on COVID-19 show that patients have a much higher survival rate if they are not intubated,” Campeau pointed out.

With the Vapotherm in its arsenal, PVHC will have another piece of equipment that will keep patients in Powell and off of ventilators more frequently.

“Often we ship patients [to other facilities] that look like they will be intubated,” Campeau said.

Pfefferle said the foundation is going to continue looking for ways to support community healthcare, especially in this time of need.