GGUSD Donates N95 Masks to UCI and CHOC in Fight Against COVID-19

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Garden Grove Unified School District officials delivered more than 1,400 N95 masks and 1,700 surgical-style masks to University of California, Irvine (UCI) Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) today to help in the fight against COVID-19.

Board of Education Vice President Teri Rocco and School Nurse Department Chair Cheryl Gibbs delivered the masks to hospital executives at UCI and CHOC and personally thanked the health care workers for all they do to keep our communities safe and healthy.

The idea to donate the district’s supply of face masks came from a thoughtful group of teachers at Walton Intermediate School who wanted to do more to help the community during this unprecedented health crisis. Masks were collected from emergency bags across the district’s 67 school sites.

“Our health care workers are risking their own lives to help flatten the curve and ensure our families are getting the help they need to fight this virus,” said Rocco. “It’s important that they have access to all available N95 masks to carry out the important and selfless work they do each day.”

“UCI Health is grateful to have friends and neighbors like Garden Grove Unified who have gone out of their way to support our caregivers,” said Chad T. Lefteris, CEO, UCI Health.

The district’s supply of non-N95 masks are being worn by Food Service workers who deliver free meals to families every Monday and Wednesday during the district’s Grab and Go Meal Service program. The remaining masks were unused as all schools have implemented distance learning.

“Our health care workers are on the front lines in the fight against coronavirus and we want to support them in any way possible,” said Walter Muneton, Board of Education president.