CTK Staff Members Lend A Hand during Pandemic

Several of CTK's faculty and staff members found ways to continue being men and women for others during the challenging COVID-19 crisis. CTK's Director of Technology, Juan Fuentes answered the call to help produce protective face shields for medical staff at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Richard Beien and his mother, Deborah Beien, developed and shared instructions for a certified protective shield prototype with Mr. Fuentes and other 3D Makers across Chicagoland for their help in its production. Recognizing that the 3D Printers in our school STEAM lab were not being used with our school building closed, Mr. Fuentes received permission to use one of them for this good cause.

Over time, Mr. Fuentes has been able to produce the PPE item at a rate of 1 per hour. A Swedish Hospital staff member posted her gratitude to the network of helpers, saying, “On behalf of the Swedish ER staff and the whole hospital, I want to thank you so much. We are very grateful.” Mr. Fuentes said, "This project gives me hope that community members can come together to help beat the pandemic.”

 

Many of our partner service sites are helping the most vulnerable during the pandemic. Social Studies teacher, Ms. Maggie Deady and her family, and Asst. Principal Ms, Kamilah Dowell made masks for our friends at Bishop Conway Senior Residence and at Our Lady of Angels to help protect them and those they serve. Director of Christian Service, Ms. Maura Rocks delivered the masks, and has called on others in the CTK community to pitch in by making masks or sending positive letters/cards to those in need.

 

Over Mother’s Day weekend, through the incredible generosity of Big Shoulders Fund supporters Gerald and Jennifer Beeson, we distributed 600 meals to our school families, neighbors, and local Chicago Police and Firefighters! The tasty food was courtesy of Chicago Lunchbox and Frontline Foods - thank you. We were thrilled to be able to provide this support to our school community and all the amazing CTK mothers.