Aiding First-Responders in a Community’s Fight Against COVID-19

Mexicali is a major hub for industry in North America, one that many manufacturers–including Accuride–rely on.

Unfortunately, Mexicali is also a city hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. No place is that impact felt more than at the General Hospital of Mexicali.

The hospital is a government-designated emergency center for COVID-19 patients. Despite their best efforts, frontline health workers soon faced a shortage of vital resources due to the sheer number of patients.

The matter hit close to home for Accuride’s team in the city. “Our company is part of the Mexicali community,” says Juan Figueroa, general manager of Accuride’s Mexicali operations. “We have been operating here for 27 years. We have always been committed to our city.”

Awareness of the difficulties first-responders faced spurred Accuride’s Mexicali team to help their city’s hospital directly.

Dr. Jorge Casellas of the General Hospital of Mexicali, a state-designated COVID-19 emergency center, receives a check from Juan Figueroa, general manager of Accuride’s Mexicali operations.

That help took the form of a $100,000 contribution to the hospital on April 17. The donation covers the cost of two months’ supply of care kits for medical staff. The kits include N-95 face masks, nitrile disposable gloves, and Tyvek protective suits, among other medical apparel.

“Everyone in Mexicali is in this fight together,” Figueroa says. “We can overcome this pandemic, and our community has the will to achieve it.”