Prep Talk
Hermits in the Community
Posted May 7th, 2020
The campus of St. Augustine Prep may be closed but “school” remains open and so does the spirit of Caritas amongst its Hermits.
As the nation continues to come together in the face of the global health crisis, basic necessities have become scarce for many. Enter Jimmy Kurtz ’21, Rocco Gallelli ’21, and Gavin Curran ’23 – the trio of Hermits each found an avenue to serve their communities. Jimmy and Rocco recognized the unthinkable hardships many in their towns are facing and sought to provide meals to those in need. Gavin Curran ’23 took to the sewing machine to assist frontline workers in making it through their grueling workdays wearing protective equipment for hours on end.
Jimmy Kurtz ’21 pictured during one of his deliveries in Wildwood.
Jimmy Kurtz’s efforts have helped to keep the most vulnerable and at-risk populations fed. From the outset of the state’s stay-at-home order, he has been delivering weekly meals to isolated senior citizens who reside in the Wildwoods. This grateful group of recipients have gotten to know him and are now as excited to see Jimmy as they are to receive his care packages.
Rocco Gallelli, along with his generous family, prepared and distributed over 600 hot meals to anyone in need. The family created a special drive-through event sponsored by Innovative Catering Concepts, Bianca’s Kids, Williamstown Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Estate at Monroe. The event was well-received by the community and successfully fulfilled the needs of so many in the area.
Rocco Gallelli (pictured left) helps prepare one of over 600 meals distributed in his community.
Gavin Curran recognized the physical toll the fight against COVID-19 has been placing on the area’s health care workers. He became aware of how difficult it has become for some frontline workers to wear personal protective equipment for long periods of time. To help ease the uncomfortable nature of this gear, he helped sew buttons on headbands for the hero nurses of Shore Medical Center. While many of us have donned masks ourselves, front line health care workers have found their ears becoming raw from hours of wearing their masks. Gavin’s headbands now help them secure their masks with buttons instead of their ears.
Gavin Curran’s handiwork with the sewing machine is in full display. His thoughtful headbands have helped ease the difficulty health care workers face when wearing PPE for long periods of time.
We are proud of these three Hermits and the entire St. Augustine Prep family for continuing to live the mission of the school by serving others!