HRA makes meaningful donation to the community

HRA recently donated 50 protective goggles, normally used in the school’s science laboratories, to a local medical group.

“There is an immediate and pressing need to get protective gear in the hands of our medical providers,” said HRA Head of School Peter W. Mertz. “Our students cannot use them at home - let's get them where they are most needed. The Hampton Roads community has always been supportive of our school, and we are honored to be in a position where we can use our resources to help the community."

HRA’s 1,000-square-foot Martha H. Patten Hydroponics Lab continues to produce an abundance of leafy greens on the many vertical growing towers. While these greens normally supply HRA’s salad bar in the new Mary and Larry Pope Dining Hall, last week HRA donated nearly 60 heads of lettuce and nearly 40 pounds of perishable items to the Peninsula Foodbank.

"We were looking at ways we could help the community in these challenging times,” said HRA Head of School Peter W. Mertz. “Rather than shut down production in the hydroponics lab, we thought "Let's ramp it up, and help those who are now in serious need. We have more than 100 seedlings ready to be transplanted and expect to provide a continuous supply to the community over the next few months.”