When two local residents came together recently to help people in their community during the COVID-19 pandemic their plan helped make people not only safer, it helped to bolster school pride and spirit in the schools.
Jim Friddell, senior partner at The Opus Group and attorney, Jason Davey donated more than 250 black masks with the Platte City Pirate logo on them to the local school district for teachers, students and administrative staff.
They are hoping to raise funds for one mask per student and one per staff. “Honestly, these masks won’t make a whole school year,” Friddell said. “For many educators and families on tight budgets, gaining access to even one additional mask would be a great start.”
The masks are being made by local vendor, Brand ID. It was important for Friddell and Davey to find someone in the area so the revenue stays local.
“As business owners entrenched in our community, we recognize that the education system is in an uphill battle regarding COVID with both students and staff,” Friddell said. “We feel it’s a communal responsibility to provide support for Platte City Schools so that our kids and staff are better prepared in the fight against COVID 19.”
Friddell has four children in the local school system and Davey’s three children also attend school locally.
“We wanted to do something positive,” Davey said. “Everyone seems to have an opinion, but we wanted to take action to make a difference and hopefully encourage other business owners to get involved.”
Because students learn so much more from teachers and staff than just subject matter, Davey and Friddell hope that the design and quality of the masks make it easier for people to wear them with pride and encourage kids to keep their masks on securely.
“Look, nobody wants to have to wear these masks, but as long as we need to, then let’s own it,” Friddell said. “Let’s take pride coming together to get through this.”
They are also trying to raise awareness on the issue by staying in continued communication with the Platte County Schools to team with them in support of additional safety gear.
“The challenge is that we are limited in our resources and are seeking other business owners to participate if they have the resources to do so,” Friddell said. “We realize that the pandemic has negatively affected many local businesses too, but for those businesses that may have capacity, we are encouraging their support to keep our kids and educational staff safe through donations like ours. The school board and all levels of staff have been so incredibly busy navigating this pandemic that we haven’t connected on their vision for patrons. We hope to brainstorm soon.”
The importance for community members and businesses to come together during the COVID-19 crisis to find ways to support the community is the goal for Davey and Friddell. They hope that those who can support the cause will do so.
“When we as a community come together, it only takes small acts to make huge impacts,” Friddell said. “Based on the health department’s guidance, the masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Reducing the spread and, hopefully, outbreaks in schools of the virus, protects our children’s education and development. It also protects many parents’ ability to work outside the home in an effective way by not forcing the schools into a purely virtual learning experience. Both are vital to development for kids and economic sustainability.”
The most rewarding part of helping supply masks to schools for Davey and Friddell is knowing they are working hard to keep their community safe.
“For me, it’s about being able to set an example, and to quite literally put our money where our mouths are,” Davey said.
Knowing that our kids and who they interact with daily have safety equipment to protect them, their self/team-development activities, and their educational development brings us pride,” Friddell said. “My kids need the education and sports environments that our county works so hard in providing. They need it and I’m so thankful we are currently providing it. We want to protect that for our kids.”
For more information, visit 235 Main St., Platte City, or call 368-2898.