SLU, Partners Help Protect Neighbors By Distributing PPE
08/24/2020
Together with partners drawn from the St. Louis faith community, Saint Louis University students, staff and faculty members have been helping equip their neighbors with masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) as the region continues to battle the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Saturday, Aug. 1, SLU volunteers and community partners gathered at the New Community Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (NCFMBC) in Jennings, Missouri, to distribute 16,000 masks, including 5,000 to clergy members and 11,000 to local government representatives for distribution to their communities.
Another drive is planned for Saturday, Aug. 29, at the New Northside Family Life Center and will include SLU volunteers from the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Center for Service and Community Engagement (CSCE).
More Details About the Aug. 29 Event
- The upcoming Clergy Mask Distribution Event on Saturday, Aug. 29, will be similar to the Jennings Distribution event, and will be hosted outdoors on the parking lot of New Northside鈥檚 Family Life Center in two parts. Community residents may pick up masks from a distribution table staffed by volunteers.
- The event鈥檚 first portion will take place between 9 and 11 a.m. and will focus on serving all North County clergy leaders through a drive-thru distribution model.
- The event鈥檚 outreach plan is currently underway. Participating clergy leaders are asked to register to pick-up masks.
- The Aug. 29 event鈥檚 second part will be limited to an invited group of partners from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Alderwoman Pam Boyd of the City of St. Louis鈥檚 27th Ward will speak as will other leaders.
- Social distancing best practices will be in place during the event.
More events are under development as the partnership with SLU continues to grow.
SLU and its volunteers supported the efforts of several organizations include Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), the Sierra Club and NCFMBC in providing the supplies to local clergy members to distribute among their congregations in in their communities.
Two medical students, two graduate students and a senior SLU staff member represented the University at the event. Organizers limited on-site volunteers to five people per organization to ensure proper social distancing.
鈥淎s the effort continues to grow, connect neighbors and communities, and fill the gaps of support for folks in the most need including seniors and immunocompromised residents, the region has also begun to pay attention鈥� said Rev. Rodrick K. Burton, pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, said of the event. 鈥淪mall grassroots and large institutional organizations have shown up in the past few months to find ways to support the effort.鈥�
The partnership grew out the friendship between Burton and University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., Bryan Sokol, Ph.D., director of SLU鈥檚 CSCE, said. Burton鈥檚 children are Billikens as SLU alumni and students.
After coordinating with Burton, MCU, and the partners, Sokol and his staff worked with Daniel Blash, M.D., vice dean for diversity, equity and inclusion in the School of Medicine, to finalize SLU鈥檚 involvement in the event.
鈥淚t was clear, from the positive energy of our virtual planning meetings, that our attitudes and commitments to supporting the community were very much aligned,鈥� Sokol said. 鈥淪LU values its friendships and partnerships in the surrounding community. This was a clear example of helping our neighbors.鈥�
鈥淲e were asked to show up and be supportive,鈥� he continued. 鈥淪ometimes that's the best way to lead, as servants to others, and it鈥檚 also the best way to empower folks in the community. We are all stronger and better off when we offer this kind of helping hand.鈥�
More About the Saturday, Aug. 1, Event
Community organizations partnered through STL Mutual Aid for a Jennings Congregations PPE Mask Distribution Event for Jennings residents and local congregations.
The day included a short program featuring local clergy and community leaders.
The speakers included:
- Pastor Harold Austin, of the New Community Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
- Rev. Rodrick Burton, pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church
- Jennings Mayor Yolanda Austin
- Members of the Jennings Clergy Coalition
- Leah Clyburn, of the Sierra Club
Event Partners
- New Northside Missionary Baptist Church
- STL Mutual Aid
- Metropolitan Congregations United
- Sierra Club
- New Community Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
- St. Louis County Health Department
- Mayor Yolanda Austin
- Jennings Clergy Coalition
- Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 13,000 students on campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of now more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.
Story by Amelia Flood , University Marketing and Communications