Bellefonte Area School District

The high school's Ski Club donates to Mount Nittany Health during COVID-19 pandemic

By April 2, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that there were 28 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Centre County. Two days later, it increased to 39, and that same week Mount Nittany Medical Center reportedly received its first case of the infectious disease.

With reports showing numbers going up, while medical supplies going down at facilities across the country, the Ski and Snow Sports Club at Bellefonte Area High School wanted to do its part in helping doctors, nurses and other hospital staff protect themselves.

With approval from its eight-member student board, the club will be donating a box of ski goggles to Mount Nittany Health with the intent to help hospital workers protect their eyes from bacteria and viruses. Club advisers said those goggles are normally available to skiers and snowboarders to rent at $10 when needed, which proceeds benefit the club's general budget.

In a statement posted on the club's Instagram account, it said: "We have a box of recently-disinfected ski goggles that will be donated to Mount Nittany Medical Center to help doctors, nurses and other staff protect themselves from novel coronavirus and other infectious diseases. Medical equipment at hospitals across the country have run low on supplies, and we think these could be a good, comfy backup to other protective eyewear from bacteria and viruses. We have been in touch with the Foundation at Mount Nittany Health to help make this donation possible, while staying cautious in drop-off efforts."

*The club notes that its advisers and student members are not medical professionals, and defer to MNH on how they deem the donations fit.