DE PERE (NBC 26) -- More than 30 gallons of hand sanitizer have been donated to the City of De Pere’s Police and Fire/Rescue Departments, according to a news release from the Unified School District of De Pere.
The donation comes after De Pere High School students were challenged by teacher Chad Michalkiewicz to raise money in order to buy sanitizer.
“Through a series of discussions I learned that our De Pere police and fire departments were looking for additional hand sanitizer which has become very difficult to purchase,” says Michalkiewicz. “At about the same time, I read how Northwoods Distillery in Minocqua was changing over their production lines from spirits to hand sanitizer."
The day before spring break, Michalkiewicz said he challenged students in his leadership class to reach out to five people they knew to raise funds for sanitizer. The school district said previous leadership class students and players from the De Pere High School football team which Michalkiewicz coaches joined the effort.
The school district said $1,875 was raised in just four days. It was enough to buy supplies for the city departments and a few local businesses, with enough left over to contribute $700 to the school district’s free lunch/breakfast/weekend meal distribution program.
“The ones still working during this crazy time are risking their health in order to aid others in the community. I felt the least we could do is supply those working with some hand sanitizer to possibly help them feel better equipped while they work their hardest to continue supplying food and products to the community,” said De Pere High School senior Sophie Hubbard.
The sanitizer was delivered to City of De Pere department leaders Tuesday morning.
