LANCASTER, CA — While a patient is dying approximately every six minutes in LA County right now Samaritan’s Purse has opened an emergency field hospital in the parking lost of Antelope Valley Hospital to assist them as they become increasingly overwhelmed with Covid patients.

Samaritan’s Purse team member Shannon Wood explains how they are there to bring hope to this community, both to the medical staff and the patients.

Shannon Wood, Samaritan’s Purse:

My name is Shannon Wood, and we are currently in Lancaster, California, in LA County. Setting up a field hospital is a lot of long hours. It’s hard work. We have lots of staff. Everybody’s pitching in. There’s lots of hands to be able to get the supplies in the tents, all of the logistical issues that we’re working through.

So the team that we have is a fantastic group of nurses, doctors, paramedics. They’ve got a great work ethic. They’re super excited to be here. They’re willing to do whatever it takes, awesome teamwork.

So this hospital is severely overwhelmed with COVID patients. There is a patient dying approximately every six minutes in LA County right now. And we’re just here to relieve that burden, so that the patients can have the best care possible and that we can help the nurses and staff over at this hospital as well not to be so overwhelmed.

We are super excited to be here to try to bring hope to this community, both to the medical staff and the patients by helping them in a physical way, but also to help them spiritually see the light again and have hope in this terrible pandemic that’s happening.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

Read more news on Disaster Relief, Medical Ministry and the COVID 19 Pandemic.

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