On Monday, Prep’s science department donated a significant stockpile of otherwise idle supply of lab safety supplies four area hospitals to support medical professionals in their fight against COVID-19.
Working together (at a safe distance), members of Prep’s faculty and staff, gathered and delivered more than 250 boxes of nitrile gloves and 200 pairs of lab goggles.
“Working at Prep instills the ideal of being men and women for others,” explained Ms. Catie Eppler, assistant department chair, who played a major part in the effort. “It’s important to always take the opportunity to help those in need, and right now, gloves and goggles are essential to keep health care staff safe.”
Fellow science teacher, Mr. Alex Canale, ’05, added, “Safety isn’t an idea, it’s an action. These things don’t help anyone sitting on the shelves while we’re in distance-learning mode, but they will help the people who need them to stay safe.”
Ms. Eppler personally helped to collect the materials from the Moriarty Science Center labs and made deliveries to Jersey City Medical Center and Christ Hospital in Jersey City as well as Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, New York. She extended special thanks to colleagues who worked to make this potentially life-saving donation a reality:
- Mr. Tom Comey, science department chair, who provided logistical support;
- Ms. Maureen Sheppard, R.N., school nurse, who reached out to JCMC to arrange the donation;
- Mr. Jerry Davis, operations, who helped gather materials from the lab;
- Ms. Erin Stark, math department chair, who brought items to the fourth location, NewYork-Presbyterian.