“Safe Schools Washtenaw” county-wide donation drive seeks community support

Washtenaw Intermediate School District asks the community to donate funds and supplies for schools countywide starting July 20. 

Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) is collaborating with all nine public school districts and their 108 schools across Washtenaw County in preparation for a safe return to school with the new state COVID-19 guidelines. School budgets which are already stretched thin are leaving many schools grappling with the challenges of being fully prepared to implement new safety protocols. At this time, the level of support from the state and federal government to procure supplies needed is unclear, but schools are working diligently to plan for their eventual return to in-person instruction. WISD, in response, will coordinate efforts to collect supplies and funds for a “Safe Schools Washtenaw” donation drive launching on July 20th. Donations can be made safely with contactless drop-off on July 20-24 and July 27-31 at WISD’s office at 1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor. Online donations can be made anytime on their website here or by purchasing items on their Amazon Wishlist.

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District has been awarded a $100,000 starter grant and 10,000 face shields from Toyota Motor North America Research & Development to seed and support the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), safety supplies and signage for schools throughout Washtenaw County. This grant will help the WISD identify PPE and other health and safety needs so students and staff across Washtenaw County can safely re-enter schools, regardless of socioeconomic status, physical vulnerabilities, or other barriers that may prevent students from fully participating in in-person instruction this school year.

With over 46,000 students collectively attending 108 schools across the nine public school districts, public school academies, and WISD’s student programs, Washtenaw County schools now have the opportunity to leverage collective buying power in a time when purchasing critical items is increasingly difficult. The grant will also level the playing field for districts that cannot fund all of the personal protective equipment, supplies, and necessary physical barriers needed to maintain a safe, healthy environment for students and staff within their buildings.

“Our Safety First commitment as a company also holds for the community we work and live in” stated Praveena Ramaswami, Community Relations Lead at Toyota. “We firmly believe schools need our collective support now more than ever.  We hope this grant will be the starting seed fund for schools to prepare, purchase and collaborate across districts in Washtenaw County.”

In addition to Toyota’s support jump starting the collaborative process, schools are also asking for the community’s help in donating additional supplies as part of a new “Safe Schools Washtenaw” donation drive. This drive asks businesses and community members to help ensure schools can be prepared by donating extra health and safety items, purchasing items on WISD’s Amazon Wishlist, or by making a monetary contribution to the fund. 

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to PPE and other supplies such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes is incredibly limited, though schools are being tasked with returning to in-person instruction as soon as it is safe to do so,” stated WISD Interim Superintendent Naomi Norman. “We cannot safely return to school without PPE and supplies, and we need the support of our community to help our schools prepare for face-to-face learning in a way that’s as safe as possible.”

Individuals, organizations and companies interested in contributing to the Safe Schools Washtenaw drive can find more information below or on WISD’s website here. The Safe Schools Washtenaw donation drive aims to collect critical health and safety items like masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes, and also hopes to raise $400,000, bringing the campaign to a total of $500,000 with Toyota’s seed grant.

“The use of personal protective equipment will be our new normal regardless of when we return to in-person learning, whether that is in August or further in the future,” shared Norman. “As schools, we are not only responsible for the education of our students, but also for their care, safety, and wellbeing when they are with us. When we reopen, we want every single person coming into our schools to know that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe and protected.”

What to Donate (New or Unused):

• Facial coverings:
  • Make Masks: Reusable, washable cloth masks (at least 2-ply; child to adult sizes). Sample patterns are available here.
  • Donate Masks:
    • Disposable surgical masks (child to adult sizes).
    • N95 masks.
    • In partnership with Masks.com’s Great American Mask Drive and Hanes, donate a custom mask for $1.50/mask. Click here to donate masks.
• Gel hand sanitizer at least 62% alcohol in a pump dispenser or squeeze bottle; no larger than 1-gallon container; must not contain methanol
• Disinfecting wipes
• Facial tissue boxes
• Disposable gloves (latex or non-latex)
• Monetary donations can be made here.
• Purchase items from the Safe Schools Washtenaw Amazon Wishlist here.

Where and When to Donate:

• Contactless Drop-Off: Monday, July 20 – Friday, July 24 and also Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31 from 12:00 pm noon-7:00 pm
  1. The donation center will be at Washtenaw Intermediate School District located at 1819 S. Wagner Road, Ann Arbor, MI.
     • Please put your donations into the trunk of your car. When you arrive at the WISD, donors can open their trunk or ask a volunteer to open their trunk for contactless donation.
     • Staff will maintain safe physical distance from donors and will wear gloves and facial coverings.
• Purchase Items: Visit the Safe Schools Washtenaw Amazon Wishlist.
• Donate funds:
  • Click here to donate online.
  • Send cash or checks to:
  • Washtenaw Intermediate School District
    Safe Schools Washtenaw
    c/o Sarah Hierman
    1819 S. Wagner Road
    P.O. Box 1406
    Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1406

For more information, visit www.washtenawisd.org/covid-19/safe-schools-washtenaw.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.