LoVLA: A Pandemic Response Initiative
In March 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director and City of Los Angeles Chief Logistics Officer Gene Seroka launched an emergency-response group to form Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA)––a team of City employees designated to match medical and non-medical suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with L.A. area health care providers in need of PPE and other supplies to treat COVID-19 patients.
Staffed with representatives from the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Department of General Services, and Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, LoVLA’s core mission was achieved by helping hospital procurement teams track and expedite supplies across the medical supply chain that flows from overseas through L.A.'s port and airport. The team also connected hospitals directly to suppliers and procures essential medical supplies by leveraging the purchasing capability of the City of Los Angeles.
Throughout the pandemic, LoVLA supplied more than 10 million units of PPE and other supplies to nearly 250 organizations. During this time, LoVLA received several extremely generous donations of critical medical supplies that were distributed to local hospitals and frontline medical workers, saving lives. The City of Los Angeles acknowledges and thanks these donors for their generosity in a time of great need.
LOVLA DONORS
Timeline
March 31, 2020 • Former Mayor Eric Garcetti names Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka the Chief Logistics Officer for the City of Los Angeles.
April 7, 2020 • Garcetti and Seroka announce Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA) and the launch of LoVLA.org, a website dedicated to matching available medical supplies with health care providers in need.
April 17, 2020 • Apple Inc. donates 160,000 face shields through the Apple Giving program to assist in L.A.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 20, 2020 • Operation USA donates 8,000 medical isolation gowns that were delivered to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and St. Francis Medical Center to help treat COVID-19 patients.
April 29, 2020 • Garcetti and LoVLA announce an agreement with Honeywell to purchase 24 million N95 masks as part of a City stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE).
May 20, 2020 • Harbor Freight Tools donates more than 11,000 pieces of PPE that will be distributed to various local health and medical facilities.
May 28, 2020 • LoVLA receives delivery of the first part of a larger order of 24 million N95 masks purchased by the City from Honeywell for doctors, nurses, firefighters, and first responders.
May 28, 2020 • Shipping line CMA CGM donates 200,000 face masks that will replenish the City's stockpile and support frontline port workers.
July 1, 2020 • YS Media Agency, Japan External Trade Organization Los Angeles and Nippon Express donate 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer; Toyota Motor North America donates 1,000 face shields.
August 13, 2020 • The Port of Los Angeles and California Manufacturers & Technology Association sign a Memorandum of Understanding to further streamline the supply and provision of PPE.
August 31, 2020 • The Port of Los Angeles, LoVLA and CMA CGM donate 75,000 masks to United Farm Workers for farm workers who continue to work outdoors amid the pandemic, wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
October 9, 2020 • CMA CGM sends emergency supplies and shipping containers to Los Angeles Fire Department and the counties of Fresno and Madera to support efforts to contain the California Wildfires.
November 18, 2020 • CMA CGM donates 2,000 turkeys to Los Angeles families and 300 prepared meals to three Harbor Area homeless shelters for the Thanksgiving holiday.
August 19, 2021 • LoVLA distributes its 10 millionth piece of PPE.
January 7, 2022 • Los Angeles County Health Officer Order requires employers to provide and require employees who work indoors in close contact with others to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask, or higher-level respirator such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator or KN95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility. LoVLA provides businesses the opportunity to purchase N95 masks at wholesale costs (less than $1 each).
April 7, 2020 • Garcetti and Seroka announce Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA) and the launch of LoVLA.org, a website dedicated to matching available medical supplies with health care providers in need.
April 17, 2020 • Apple Inc. donates 160,000 face shields through the Apple Giving program to assist in L.A.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 20, 2020 • Operation USA donates 8,000 medical isolation gowns that were delivered to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and St. Francis Medical Center to help treat COVID-19 patients.
April 29, 2020 • Garcetti and LoVLA announce an agreement with Honeywell to purchase 24 million N95 masks as part of a City stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE).
May 20, 2020 • Harbor Freight Tools donates more than 11,000 pieces of PPE that will be distributed to various local health and medical facilities.
May 28, 2020 • LoVLA receives delivery of the first part of a larger order of 24 million N95 masks purchased by the City from Honeywell for doctors, nurses, firefighters, and first responders.
May 28, 2020 • Shipping line CMA CGM donates 200,000 face masks that will replenish the City's stockpile and support frontline port workers.
July 1, 2020 • YS Media Agency, Japan External Trade Organization Los Angeles and Nippon Express donate 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer; Toyota Motor North America donates 1,000 face shields.
August 13, 2020 • The Port of Los Angeles and California Manufacturers & Technology Association sign a Memorandum of Understanding to further streamline the supply and provision of PPE.
August 31, 2020 • The Port of Los Angeles, LoVLA and CMA CGM donate 75,000 masks to United Farm Workers for farm workers who continue to work outdoors amid the pandemic, wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
October 9, 2020 • CMA CGM sends emergency supplies and shipping containers to Los Angeles Fire Department and the counties of Fresno and Madera to support efforts to contain the California Wildfires.
November 18, 2020 • CMA CGM donates 2,000 turkeys to Los Angeles families and 300 prepared meals to three Harbor Area homeless shelters for the Thanksgiving holiday.
August 19, 2021 • LoVLA distributes its 10 millionth piece of PPE.
January 7, 2022 • Los Angeles County Health Officer Order requires employers to provide and require employees who work indoors in close contact with others to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask, or higher-level respirator such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator or KN95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility. LoVLA provides businesses the opportunity to purchase N95 masks at wholesale costs (less than $1 each).