As part of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Get Us PPE is profiling some of our amazing volunteers that have given their time to aid our mission of getting PPE to those who need it most.
Below are some of Get Us PPE’s volunteers working in the Communications and Development team. These are the folks putting together our social media content, designing beautiful graphics that accompany our data and translating that data into nuggets of information that others can easily digest. These folks are indispensable in telling our story!
This is part two of a series highlighting our volunteers. Click here to read the profiles of our Operations Team volunteers!
Adriane Kiss
Adriane is the Director of Development and Partnerships and has been working with Get Us PPE since April 2020. Outside of Get Us PPE, Adriane works as a sales representative for Dooney & Bourke handbags. She enjoys playing her ukulele, chasing her energetic dog, Jack, going for long runs, and experimenting in the kitchen. While she began as a volunteer early in Get Us PPE’s history, she is now a full-time staff member.
Adriane Kiss is Get Us PPE’s point of contact with our partnerships and has masterminded many of our fundraisers.
Why did you join Get Us PPE?
I had been volunteering at a food bank at the start of the pandemic to help make a difference. I was so thankful when my sister Claudia told me about this amazing organization working tirelessly to make sure frontline workers had protective equipment. She had been volunteering with Get Us PPE since day one. From the first moment I started, I felt like I had become part of a very important movement. It was powerful.
Proudest moment at Get Us PPE
As part of our partnerships team, I often check in on recipients of PPE to highlight our donor’s generosity. When I get correspondence back that our efforts and our donor’s efforts have helped keep them safe, I feel so happy.
What have you learned from volunteering at Get Us PPE?
I have learned that you don’t have to physically interact with people in an office setting to form lasting bonds! Most of our employees and volunteers have never met in person – yet I am so connected to this great team! We all work remotely and mostly communicate over Zoom, chat, and email.
Deepthi Sathyanarayana
Deepthi is one of Get Us PPE’s bloggers and policy strategists.
Deepthi is a high school student and writer for the Get Us PPE blog, focusing on stories that highlight the many disparities brought to light during the pandemic and the nationwide PPE shortage that plagued us through most of the pandemic. She enjoys playing tennis for her school, debating, staying up-to-date on current affairs, and spending time with her family.
Why did you join Get Us PPE?
As soon as the quarantine started and my school ended, I felt a little helpless as my country faced a major crisis. As a young volunteer, I felt it was all the more reason to give back and help those in need. As many people were navigating new hobbies and new experiences during quarantine, I chose to work at Get Us PPE to learn about the PPE crisis in more detail and contribute to stopping the crisis as well. Get Us PPE has provided me so many opportunities that fell under my interests at the same time–helping healthcare workers get their necessary PPE.
Proudest moment at Get Us PPE
One of my proudest moments at Get Us PPE was when I presented an idea to the Development & Communications Team. I suggested we start getting donations through round-up change through many retail stores. The team welcomed the idea and the research on the idea, and I felt proud that I could put forth an idea that would be implemented in the organization.
What have you learned from volunteering at Get Us PPE?
I have learned that every part of this organization has a focus on different fields. This includes medical, media, and marketing. I met new people and learned about their careers through this organization. I learned that no idea is a bad idea and that I should be confident while presenting my idea. Lastly, I learned to be open-minded and take any opportunity that comes to me.
Erin Kisliuk
Erin began as a social media volunteer and now leads the Social Media Team as a staff member.
Erin leads the Social Media Team. Outside of Get Us PPE, she has worked for NASA as a communicator. She loves to travel and spend time outdoors. She also enjoys the food and beverage scene – whether it’s out in the city or her kitchen, adding You gotta make it work in these quarantine times!
Why did you join Get Us PPE?
My friend and former intern, Stephanie Zeller, told me that she was volunteering and mentioned that Get Us PPE could use help on the social media team from someone with my skill set.
Proudest moment at Get Us PPE
I coordinated the release of the first PPE Shortage Index. I love watching large projects come to fruition. The teamwork and dedication to both the large picture and minute details are inspiring to watch in real-time.
What have you learned from volunteering at Get Us PPE?
I have learned that SO many people are selfless and generous with their talent and time – even in the face of a pandemic.
Sarah Tsang
Sarah is one of Get Us PPE’s talented graphic designers.
Sarah is a graphic designer charged with creating the graphics for Get Us PPE’s calls to action, targeted campaigns, and general outreach. Outside of Get Us PPE, she works as an architectural designer and likes to bake, crochet, and play board games when it’s cold and table tennis when it’s warm!
Why did you join Get Us PPE?
When the pandemic hit and everyone was mandated to shelter in place, I felt anxious, helpless, and restless. Sitting at home while hearing the news about the steadily increasing death toll in the U.S. made me realize what extraordinary privilege I held being able to stay and work safely at home. With the huge amount of free time I suddenly had gained, I decided to use my skills in whatever capacity to help stop this pandemic which is how I found myself among the compassionate and like-minded volunteers at Get Us PPE.
Proudest moment at Get Us PPE
My proudest moment was seeing our team’s infographic map in President Biden’s COVID-19 plan document! It was a representation of how rigorous our data-keeping had been and demonstrated how well we could distill that information into something visual.
What have you learned from volunteering at Get Us PPE?
I have learned how incredibly compassionate people can be during times of crisis. Seeing my team and all the other volunteers unite under one goal: to give everyone the dignity and right to be healthy, and donate their time and use their various skills has been a profound thing to witness.
Cindy Jodesty
Cindy has masterminded much of the art direction on the Get Us PPE site and its social media platforms.
Cindy is a Brand and Marketing Designer for Get Us PPE and works as an Art Director outside of the organization. She loves listening to music and drawing in her free time.
Why did you join Get Us PPE?
My mentor told me about an amazing non-profit last summer and that they needed some volunteers. I was able to get in touch with Get Us PPE and learned more about the organization. One of the many things that stood out to me was the ‘PPE for Black Lives Fund’ during the BLM Protests in 2020. The fund was created to protect protestors from COVID-19 during the BLM protests around the country. The fund expanded to ensure that healthcare and essential workers in the Black community have the proper PPE. Many of my family members are healthcare and essential workers. So, it was a fund I was passionate about and close to my heart.
Proudest moment at Get Us PPE
During my involvement with Get Us PPE, my proudest moment was to see how many people are loving our #getusppe GIF’s animated Stickers on social media.
What have you learned from volunteering at Get Us PPE?
I learned how much impact you can make towards a cause when you have passionate and dedicated people.
Sam Cohen
Sam volunteers his time to write copy for the PPE Shortage Index and research policy for the Advocacy Team.
Sam is a sophomore at Harvard College studying English and Economics. He enjoys playing tennis, running, doing yoga, playing the piano and violin, traveling, hiking, and shooting film photography in his free time. He volunteers his time at Get Us PPE as a Communications and Policy Strategist.
Why did you join Get Us PPE?
I started volunteering at Get Us PPE because, having taken time off from school, I was in a position to give back. The work that Get Us PPE does to support frontline workers is as inspiring as it is critical, and volunteering here has provided me countless opportunities to work in a dynamic and engaging environment — one where I feel valued for what I can offer and excited by all the new skills I can learn.
Proudest moment at Get Us PPE
My proudest moment at Get Us PPE was getting to correspond directly with Congressional offices to advance some of our policy proposals — I even had the opportunity to write the first draft of a letter summarizing one of our ideas that members of Congress could potentially adopt!
What have you learned from volunteering at Get Us PPE?
Through the exciting exposure to Public Relations and Policy I have been fortunate to experience, I feel like I have a newfound grasp on how changemakers actually go about pursuing their goals — it takes an admirable degree of strategizing, tenacity, and communication skills to get people working together in a way that is productive and inclusive.
