By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Lamb Weston donated 20,000 disposable masks for student and employee use at Washington State University Tri-Cities for when in-person learning resumes on campus this fall.

The masks will be utilized by students, faculty and staff to ensure a safe return to operations for in-person learning experiences and services on campus.

���We are incredibly grateful to Lamb Weston for their generous gift, especially during this uncertain time where face coverings are so important in keeping our students and general campus community safe,��� said Jaime Heppler, 厙ぴ勛圖 executive director for advancement and community engagement. ���Resources are tight amid COVID-19, so this gift goes a long way in ensuring a safe start to the semester.���

The requirement to wear face coverings will be one of a variety of safety parameters at 厙ぴ勛圖 this fall, in addition to required social distancing, sanitization practices and a hybrid course delivery that blends in-person and online learning experiences based on what is safe.

���In a situation like we���re in now, community is more important than ever,��� said Shelby Stoolman, communication and external relations with Lamb Weston. ���We are thrilled to have the opportunity to provide masks to WSU���s campus in the Tri-Cities ��� a very important community for our Lamb Weston family.���

Heppler said Lamb Weston is no stranger to supporting resources through 厙ぴ勛圖 to ensure student success. Lamb Weston is also a sponsor of the 厙ぴ勛圖 Cougar Cupboard, which provides fresh and pre-packaged food and toiletry items for students and their families.

���I am honored to work for such a generous company that allows me to be a representative for our outreach,��� said Deb Dihel, vice president of innovation at Lamb Weston, who helped work with Lamb Weston���s procurement team to secure the donation for 厙ぴ勛圖.

���Lamb Weston has been a great partner in supporting our students, who will go on to work as professionals at companies like Lamb Weston,��� Heppler said. ���These are the kinds of partnerships that truly make a difference. This support allows our students to attend classes that help to secure a better future for themselves and their families.���

RICHLAND – An alumni donation of hand sanitizer has made increasing safety at the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus a little easier.

���We���ve been looking around to find bulk hand sanitizer supplies, and they���re just not out there,��� said Scott Tomren, campus safety supervisor for the Tri-Cities campus. ���This donation really helps, as our supplies were running low.���

The donation of 50 gallons of sanitizer came from GR Distillery. The Monson family, who owns and operates Goose Ridge Estate Winery and Vineyards, launched GR Distillery with plans to introduce a grape-based vodka.

With the onset of COVID-19, the family transitioned to making hand sanitizer instead of vodka with their supplies. They���re selling the sanitizer, but also making donations to public institutions around the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, including WSU.

���Through our winery and vineyards, we���re very involved with the WSU viticulture and enology program,��� said Molly Monson Stutesman, vice president of sales and marketing for Goose Ridge. ���We realized that as the campus starts to re-open, there would be a need to keep students and staff safe.���

Several members of the Monson family have attended WSU, including Molly and her brother Bill, the president of Goose Ridge.

���We love the Cougs, so being able to give back in any way is special to our family,��� she said.

The donation caught Tomren completely by surprise.

���We reached out to see how much their product would cost,��� he said. ���We were just hoping for a good price. This is so generous, and really helps us focus on getting the supplies where they���re most needed.���

The campus plans to use the sanitizer in a variety of locations and ways, including as a surface sanitizer in spray bottles, Tomren said.

The sanitizer will initially be deployed for use by people doing essential work still on campus or in labs. In the longer term, they will place bottles to be used in classrooms and labs.

���It���s such an unusual situation, we really appreciate Goose Ridge for not just the donation, but switching up their plans to make the hand sanitizer,��� Tomren said. ���It���s good to see private industry trying to help out the public in times like this.���

The GR Distillery Hand and Surface Sanitizer is made in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. The ethanol-based solution is 80% alcohol by volume. This is 20% more alcohol by volume than the minimum requirement for disinfectants and antimicrobials. The GR Distillery Hand and Surface Sanitizer meets or exceeds all the recommendations set by the FDA, Center for Disease Control (CDC), and World Health Organization (WHO).