WEBSTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With schools across the country finalizing their plans to “reopen” this fall, Safety Life and Health Medical Supply (SLH), a distributor of right-sized orders of personal protective equipment for community organizations, donated 80,000 pieces of personal protective equipment valued at $380,000 to 1,000 public school districts across the country this week.
SLH put out the word it was giving away $1,500 worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) to any district that would register on the company’s website between July 19 and July 23. SLH founder Michael Pelletz said he came up with the idea to relieve some of the pressure public schools are feeling right now.
“As a father of three school-aged children, I know how valuable PPE is to the safety of students, teachers and staff. I also know it can be expensive and hard to source, especially in the face of local budget cuts. We are proud to help,” said Pelletz.
Widespread shortages of PPE have been reported among health care workers on the front lines of coronavirus hot spots. It is estimated a 3,000-person school district would need to spend $2 million over a 36-week school year outfitting teachers and students with PPE. Rural schools in particular may struggle to keep up with the demand for safety essentials.
“We’ve heard from school districts as far away as Utah and Hawaii, thanking us for making these donations,” said Pelletz. “One superintendent of schools in Indiana wrote us an email saying, ‘[You] made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. We can’t thank you enough. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the generosity of you and your company.’”
In addition to cloth and N95 masks, SLH also donated transparent masks, which are highly sought after because they improve instruction for special needs students. SLH also donated infrared thermometers, sanitizer and desk shields.
About SLH Medical Supply:
Safety, Health & Life (SLH) Medical Supply is a Massachusetts-based company specializing in procuring quality personal protective equipment. Founded by entrepreneur Michael Pelletz and his wife, Kelly, a registered nurse who has served in the medical field for more than 20 years, the company is committed to partnering with community organizations to supply protective gear. In 2016, Pelletz started a woman only ride share company called Safr, originally Chariots for Women, to provide women with safe transportation. Find more information on SLH here.
