With N95 masks in short supply, several local front-line health agencies received a big boost in their stock of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Toronto Blue Jays Central/Sportsnet host, Jamie Campbell, delivered supplies of PPE to the Timmins and District Hospital, the Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre (CTRC) and Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) paramedics.

“It was great having Jamie here. Jamie really has a real love for Timmins and he really pushed for this donation,” said Dr. Stephen Morgan, who is a physician and medical director at TADH. “This was a seriously helpful donation of product we were in great need of. Our stores department has been working tirelessly trying to get PPE supplies, but it’s a constant battle with shipment delays and the controls on purchasing.

“We had no idea someone with Jamie’s influence was out there advocating for us. Not just for the hospital, but Timmins in general.”

The CTRC, which is a local organization that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Timmins and throughout the region, was one of the recipient agencies.

Colleen Taylor, director at the organization, said CTRC received 1,200 surgical masks, 2,000 gloves and 11 Toronto Blue Jays hats. Campbell’s delivery package consisted of 600 N95 Masks.

Taylor explained Campbell delivering all the equipment was a part of his volunteer work with the Conquer COVID-19 organization which is headed by the Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, actor Ryan Reynolds and others.

Conquer COVID-19 organization is aimed at doing everything they can to support workers in the front line and provide other supplies that are essential in treating patients and minimizing the spread of the virus.

“Hayley posted a plea on Twitter for personal protective equipment for health-care workers, which was re-tweeted by Ryan Reynolds, giving the effort a national audience and resulting in the Conquer COVID-19 group. CTRC was the grateful recipient of PPE for the dedicated staff working in the agency’s 10 group homes, who provide around the clock care for adults with developmental disabilities,” said Taylor.

Darren Rowntree, who is with the Timmins EMS, explained it all started when he saw on Twitter all the help Wickenheiser is doing to support the front line workers during this time.

“I just threw a comment out there saying if you guys ever have spare PPE, paramedics in Timmins would appreciate a visit and within an hour I got a message from Jamie Campbell, and we were talking daily.

“So, the best part of the whole thing is I messaged him (Campbell) about visiting one of our co-workers Walter Marsh and his son Michael Marsh who has cerebral palsy and who is literally the biggest Jays fan in the world. They just returned from Dunedin, Fla., where they go every year for spring training to watch the Jays but missed out with everything going on.

“Well, I asked Jamie if he would go to meet Michael and without hesitation he said yes, so we dropped by observing appropriate social distancing and surprised Michael. He had no idea and it was hands down, the best thing. It showed how amazing of a guy Jamie is,” said Rowntree.

Campbell delivered PPE not only in Timmins but at North Bay hospital, Sudbury and a few other places.

Rowntree said one of the co-founders of Conquer COVID-19 organization reached out to him, so he mentioned that they are still in need of PPE in Timmins. The organization is now working to get some more PPE delivered from Southern Ontario with the help of Campbell.

“I honestly couldn’t thank Jamie enough, not just for the PPE but for taking the time to talk a little bit of baseball and for what he did for Micheal,” said Rowntree.

Rowntree explained the reason why Campbell mentions Timmins in his broadcast is that when he was younger, Campbell used to work in this area and on his days off he would swing by Hollinger Park and watch baseball.

Morgan also said, “We were definitely fortunate to spend some time with Jamie that evening. It was great escapes for us leave the stress of the COVID-19 crisis and talk about sports again. Jamie also talked about his days in Timmins when he was a junior forest ranger and his advocacy for baseball field upgrades for Hollinger Park.”