The sudden change to the way our campus operates was challenging for our students, staff, and faculty, but, as always, our community jumped into action when faced with a challenge and worked together to come up with solutions. While pivoting classes and workdays to an online format, our staff and faculty were able to help out local organizations in the community. We are pleased to share some of these heartwarming stories that have come out of these unprecedented times.
Meat and fresh produce donated to Mountain View Food Bank
Due to the restrictions of operating our social enterprises, such as our Retail Meat Store and weekly Greenhouse sales, our staff was able to help out our local food bank. Over 100 lbs of fresh produce every week is currently being delivered to Mountain View Food Bank. Products from the retail meat store were also donated.
Bedding plants brighten people’s day
Every summer the grounds team at Olds College plants several hundred bedding plants around the campus. With the limited campus operations during the spring and summer, the team decided to donate bedding plants to local community groups, who used them to create care packages for people in our community.
Fashion Institute creates 200 masksAn Olds College Alumni, who is now a physician, reached out to the Fashion Institute for help with obtaining face masks for new moms. Instructor, Lori Kemp and Jesse Murphy worked together to create a face mask pattern, which they provided to volunteer sewers and the public. The team cut pieces for volunteers and helped sew 200 masks for the cause. |  |
3D Printed Ear Guards sent to Olds Hospital Jon Newman, Learning Commons Supervisor, has been spending his spare time 3D printing ear guards for our local nurses, doctors, and essential frontline workers who are mandated to wear masks while working. So far, 51 have been printed and distributed. Moving forward, he will continue to print the ear guards, and donate them to “Mask Makers Olds and Area” - a group started on Facebook by local doctor, Dr. Leoni Kelly. From there, they will be distributed community-wide. This thing was created by Thingiverse user Suraky, and is licensed under cc. You can find the original file here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4249113 |  |
Extra PPE donated to health care workers
When the Government of Canada put out a call for masks, gloves, and other PPE, our Animal Science program offered up the supplies they had on hand. Masks and gloves were added to the database to be ready for health organizations to access if the need arises.
Billy the Bronco joins birthday parade
Billy the Bronco and our Athletics team joined the Town of Olds Great Neighbours Program to wish local 8 year-old Quinn a very happy birthday by parading by her house and honking. This great program set up by the Town of Olds, helps residents celebrate milestone celebrations during this time of social distancing.
Notes of encouragement
If you took a walk around campus last week you may have noticed some notes of encouragement put up on several benches. We don’t know who put the notes up, but they made our day when we saw them.
Volunteer opportunities
Looking for ways to volunteer during COVID-19? Check out the Town of Olds Great Neighbours Program or the Government of Alberta’s website Alberta Cares Connecter. We will get through this pandemic together.
