Downers Grove High Schools Donate Masks, Gloves To Hospital

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — When administrators and high school students in Downers Grove learned of a shortage of personal protective equipment at local hospitals due to the new coronavirus crisis, they jumped at the chance to help. The students gathered gloves, masks and other equipment from their schools' science and custodial departments to donate to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital.

District 99 Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele said in a statement, "We realized that everyday items in our reserves would be valuable on the front line, and reached out to our local partner Good Samaritan Hospital to arrange to donate the items."

In all, the students donated:

• 30,000 nitrile gloves
• 4 face respirators with 11 packages of OV/P100 cartridges
• Indirect vented goggles
• 6 Tyvek suits

Advocate Health Care Regional Manager Jaime Oh said in a statement, "We are so grateful to Community High School District 99 for this generous gesture. Our team members at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital are the heroes on the frontlines of this nationwide effort to stem the spread of COVID-19, and every act of kindness and generosity does so much to keep their spirits up."

Latest Downers Grove Coronavirus Update: 33 Cases Confirmed

Thiele said the students were happy to help. He added, "All of us respect and appreciate our local health care workers and the difficult work they are performing to keep us safe and strong through this crisis."

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 8: 13,549 Cases; 380 Deaths

Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.