When COVID-19 began spreading across the Lehigh Valley, Whitehall Pharmacy owner and head pharmacist Rikin Patel, Pharm.D., stepped up to help first responders and medical professionals by making hand sanitizer and giving it out at no cost. Now, he is helping in a different way - uniting the community in order to provide 5,000 free masks to police, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders.

While he was distributing the free hand sanitizers, members of the community wanted to donate money to help. Patel set up a GoFundMe account (no longer accepting donations) to raise money in order to give out masks.

“Whitehall Pharmacy is humbled to announce that we were able to procure over 36,000 masks for the Greater Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. With the combined efforts from the pharmacy and the community, the GoFundMe campaign was able to procure an additional 5,000 masks, which will be donated to the first responders, our heroes,” Patel posted on the pharmacy’s Facebook page.

Patel distributed the 36,000 masks to Lehigh County, local municipalities, other pharmacies, St. Luke’s University Hospital and other health networks. Though he has been spreading the word through social media, friends and family, he wants to make sure any first responder who needs a mask will take advantage of the free masks at the pharmacy.

Patel said although helping during this time makes him feel good, he is still concerned it’s not enough - and he is hoping other businesses will follow suit.

“I wish I could do more. Honestly, I really do. I love helping. I want to do more, but I want other people to step up,” he said.

COVID-19 has hit home for Patel. He has had several friends who contracted the virus, one who was hospitalized and another who came close. Like many on the front lines of this crisis, Patel, who has a baby on the way, is very concerned about spreading it to his family.

“I know there’s a lot more that needs to be done. I’m happy, but I’m still worried, if that makes any sense,” Patel said. “I’m not sure where the situation is moving in the Valley, if we’re a week or two behind most of the big metropolis cities. I know I’ve done what I can, but I don’t know if it’s enough. We don’t know if what anybody’s done is enough.”

Patel said he frequently hears COVID-19 compared to the flu but said more people are dying from the current threat, and instead of an entire season, it has only been a few weeks.

While he doesn’t believe in scare tactics, Patel is asking members of the community to think of others, even if some people aren’t concerned themselves. He said once they or their family members contract it, it’s too late.

Patel said there are lessons to learn from the Great Depression, where people who lived through it became the “Great Savers.” Now that the world has seen the effects of the virus, both from a health and economic standpoint, he hopes people will be more prepared in the future by ensuring they keep a stock of nonperishables like canned goods and other pantry staples (and toilet paper!).

“I think after all this is done,” he said, “we’ll have a change of mentality for everybody - in a good way.”

Whitehall Pharmacy is located at 4117 Main St., and Patel is asking first responders in need of free masks to call 610-440-6337 before coming to the store to ensure availability. Patel offered thanks to all those who donated and helped to keep the first responders safe.