Photo by Deb Gau Legacy Foundation board members John Drown and Bernie Wing presented True Light Christian School principal Zach Schubert with a $1,000 donation for personal protective equipment. Last week the Legacy Foundation made donations to True Light and Holy Redeemer Catholic School to help with COVID-19 response costs.

MARSHALL — Hand sanitizer, desk shields, masks — keeping students healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic takes a lot of supplies. But the work local private schools do is worth supporting, John Drown said.

“Each of the schools, in their own way, are providing a path to our heavenly father,” said Drown, a member of the Legacy Foundation board. “We as a board made a decision to support them.

On Thursday, Legacy Foundation board members presented $1,000 donations for personal protective equipment to True Light Christian School and Holy Redeemer Catholic School.

Zach Schubert, principal of True Light Christian School, said the donation would help cover the cost of things like cleaning supplies and desk shields.

“This helps us continue on the path of providing in-person instruction,” he said.

The Legacy Foundation, an inter-denominational Christian nonprofit, offered to make donations to private schools in Marshall to help with PPE costs, Drown said. In addition to True Light and Holy Redeemer, Drown said the foundation also plans to offer a donation to St. Edward Catholic School in Minneota.

Schubert said the donation would help as private schools like True Light work to keep students healthy.

“The big challenge for each school is sifting through what is required of you,” and figuring out how Minnesota’s state COVID-19 response requirements affect a private school, he said. At True Light, students wear masks and use clear plastic desk shields, he said. Classrooms and desks are also cleaned frequently. But wiping down desks four times a day and using hand sanitizer comes with costs for supplies, and the foundation’s donation will help, he said.

Students and families at True Light have done a great job adapting to all the changes this year, Schubert said. “It’s amazing how agile (the kids) are,” he said. “And we’re blessed to have families that are really supportive.”