Launched in March, SCI Supply Able to Supply PPE Locally and Beyond Throughout Pandemic

by David Dinsmore

Until a few months ago, the term “personal protective equipment,” or PPE, was not part of people’s everyday vocabulary if they did not work in specific industries.

It was, however, on the radar for SCI Supply, which is a new venture launched in March by South Central Industries in Shawnee. The nonprofit organization originally established this effort to meet local customers’ needs for janitorial and office supplies in conjunction with the other aspects of its operations.

South Central Industries provides vocational training, occupational opportunities, volunteer efforts, self-enrichment programs and some housing for individuals with developmental disabilities to help provide these needs as well as foster relationships and community outreach.

When it became clear that the response to the novel coronavirus pandemic hit would impact the community, South Central staff and family quickly prepared the store to move the original opening date up a week to March 16, according to information provided by executive director Tina Hanna. SCI already had state use contracts for PPE items and had access to many different vendors for PPE items, meaning the organization had the ability to provide hard-to-find items like toilet paper, diapers, wipes, masks, disinfectant, gloves, gowns and more.

These supplies were key to the continuing operations of entities like prisons overseen by the Department of Corrections; lakes, parks and outdoor spaces managed by the Department of Tourism; and child care, foster care, aging and disabled population services conducted by the Department of Human Services.

SCI Supply planned launch in March helped ensure it would be able to continue providing personal protective equipment and other health essentials throughout the pandemic response for businesses and nonprofits like Legacy Parenting Center. Photos submitted

Due to large quantities necessary to supply state agencies like these, SCI Supply benefitted from established relationships with existing vendors, who placed them high on priority lists when they had to begin rationing orders of PPE, paper and chemical products in late March. SCI's existing large volume allowed for larger allocated amounts of largely unavailable items than most businesses could acquire. Though brand name items of wipes and disinfectants are still scarce, SCI has still stocked EPA-approved items comparable to well-known brands.

“SCI has been blessed to have stayed open through the pandemic and provide necessary items to essential businesses,” Hanna said.

This steady stream of supplies caught the attention of local businesses and nonprofits like the Avedis Foundation, whose health-focused initiatives led them to seek ways to help local organizations continue to function safely during the height of the lockdown measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have been committed to assisting our local nonprofit organizations by providing PPE essentials as they prioritize the safety of their

staff and clients during the COVID pandemic,” said Kathy Laster, CEO of Avedis Foundation. “These organizations work tirelessly each and every day to make sure that critical needs in our community are being met.”

The need for PPE among local nonprofits “became abundantly clear” at a weekly directors meeting hosted by Avedis that local non-profits needed lots of PPE items but were struggling with funding and the ability to locate these items. Avedis and South Central saw a chance to utilize their resources to make the process of providing these items a seamless process that increased local impact.

“Purchasing the PPE locally from one of our nonprofits, South Central Industries, made perfect sense,” Laster said. “Every purchase from South Central Industries helps to support their mission by employing individuals with developmental disabilities. Tina Hanna and her staff provide superior service while fostering relationships in the community and enriching the lives of those they serve.”

This type of partnership not only helped provide necessary items for organizations that continued providing services, but it also played a role in helping get local organizations begin to resume closer-to-normal functions for their clients.

“South Central Industries and Avedis Foundation played a major role in helping us reopen the center for client appointments after 16 weeks of strictly curbside service,” said executive director Lacey Holt of Legacy Parenting Center, which provides training and supply needs for families with young children in the community. “We are grateful for the opportunity to serve babies and families in person again with safety measures in place.”

The partnership with Avedis also led to a relationship with the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, which heard about SCI Supply’s ability to provide PPE and other necessary items. OKCNP was able to purchase items for use by its partner agencies across the state.

With these demands tripling the workload for South Central, there have been challenges to providing these services while also operating amid a pandemic in a way keeps everyone safe while maintaining morale. South Central leaders instituted weekly outdoor events with safe parameters that bring the SCI family together to celebrate remaining open and the ability to provide the needed items to our local customers and state agencies. These events include kickball, whiffle ball, karaoke and snow cones provided by another new South Central venture, the Special Kneads Food Truck.

Still, those associated with SCI have relished the opportunity to make an impact locally, around Oklahoma and across state lines by providing crucial services that have helped ensure essential organizations could continue operating safely.

“All SCI staff and clients were thrilled to step up and do our part to make a difference in battling this pandemic,” Hanna said. “It has been a win-win for us. We helped others and they have helped us provide jobs for our clients by purchasing with us. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers that support South Central Industries.”

Call SCI Supply at (405) 273-6162 or South Central Industries at (405) 275-3851 or visit southcentralindustriesinc.com for more information.

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