As science classrooms at Transylvania University sit empty and instruction segues to remote technology, materials traditionally used in chemistry and biology classes are going unused.
Joshua Adkins, a lab coordinator and instructor, couldn’t help thinking of a more immediate need for gloves and sterile cotton swabs in the Lexington community. He and James Wagner, professor of biology and chair of natural sciences and mathematics, quickly secured permission from the school administration to donate the supplies.
They gathered an inventory of 7,000 gloves of varying sizes, normally used by students to conduct experiments with chemicals, and 1,000 sterile swabs earmarked for experiments in microbiology and introductory biology labs. The size of the donation may be, according to Wagner, “a drop in the bucket,” but when supplies are running short, “every little bit helps.”
Representatives from the city collected the personal protection supplies on Thursday morning as soon as they were available, and they expressed their appreciation, inviting other institutions to follow suit.
“The Division of Emergency Management and Lexington is thankful for the donation from Transylvania,” said Pat Dugger, the city’s Emergency Management director. “Any other health care agencies, offices or companies that use this type of personal protection equipment and wish to donate some can call 311 and talk to a customer service agent who will take the request.”