Character leadership takes on a unique meaning for Summit Country Day School students Annette and Grace LaLonde during this coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to adapting their learning styles to the remote environment, the Indian Hill sisters have taken on part-time volunteering roles making masks for staff at UC Health, TriHealth, Mercy Health, nursing and senior care facilities, the Ronald McDonald House, the Lighthouse, Tender Mercies and the Freestore Foodbank.
The project began in April when their father, Greg, of the Polar3D Company, teamed up with start-up firm Cintrifuse to convert a co-working space in Over The Rhine to a mask manufacturing company. The Beer Hall Mask Factory formally opened its doors on April 2 and produces more than 500 masks a day.
Annette and Grace balance their time between schoolwork and lending a hand in the production of the personal protective equipment.
"I feel honored to contribute to the project because I am making a difference in my community to beat this virus,” Annette said. “Waking up at 6 a.m. is a little different, but it is rewarding to do something to help others."
Grace, a senior at The Summit, should be preparing for senior prom and the pomp and circumstance that would normally go with graduating as a Summit ‘Lifer.’ Instead, she is dedicating her time to monitoring the production of molded masks in the hope of making a positive impact on someone’s life.
“I am contributing to something and a cause bigger than myself,” she said. “I want to serve my community as much as I can. Balancing assembling the masks, school and life in general is somewhat difficult but also fun because it is a new task every day unlike my typical day-in, day-out schedule of school and sports.”
All the masks are being donated and all 3D printers used in this relief effort will be donated to area schools.