BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — Feeding thousands of Buffalo Public School children during this pandemic remains a top priority. Food service workers received much needed donations of face masks and gloves to ensure food safety.
But earlier this week city school food service workers and volunteers were running out of face masks and gloves.
“We want to make sure that our food is protected and so that nobody has to worry about this,” said Bridge O’Brien Wood, food service director, Buffalo Public Schools.
O’Brien Wood says fortunately Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz was able to provide 5,000 face masks. “My team is all wearing them. Everyone is safe guarded with their hand guards and their face guards and we really have confidence that these meals are safe for anyone to consume,” remarked O’Brien Wood.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have donations for face masks.” Then, more face masks and gloves arrived from Aesthetic Associates Centre.
“Whether they are volunteers or health professionals. We need to stay healthy because we're the ones on the front lines helping people out and with that being said, we want to protect those people that are doing those services,” explained Dr. Samuel Shatkin, physician, Aesthetic Associates.
Dr. Shatkin and Dr. Todd Shatkin donated 500-face masks and 1,000 medical gloves to Buffalo schools.
“As it turns out, since we are not working right now in our facility, just seeing emergencies, we've got these extra supplies available,” Dr. Shatkin noted.
The district also received 2,500 individually wrapped hand wipes from WellNow Urgent Care and Independent Health Foundation has also ordered 5,000 more face masks for city schools.
At Hightgate Heights Elementary in the city’s University District school families picked up 300-meals before noon Friday.
Assistant principal Gregelle Fulcher says the school is also providing books, games and activities and information on the Coronavirus to help school families. “We miss the kids. We definitely miss seeing them each and every day but their safety and health is our number one,” Fulcher replied.
The district served about 5,000 meals last week and more than 11,000 this week.
Buffalo schools will continue serving meals Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. City school families can pick them up between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
