Cal Poly students help connect hand sanitizer to at-risk organizations

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Thanks in part to a team of Cal Poly students, at-risk organizations can now connect to the hand sanitizer they need.

Disinfect Connect started when Miles Pepper heard his grandmother's nursing home couldn't find sanitizer.

He enlisted the help of his brother Gabe, a third year Cal Poly wine student, to help. They formed a team with professionals, medical experts and three other cal poly students.

The not-for-profit connects organizations in need of sanitizer to distilleries who are making it.

"One of the biggest issues that we're really proud to have tackled is helping these distilleries triage their requests," said Gabe Pepper. He said distilleries are "bombarded with requests from every place under the sun."

Seth Ewing, Gabe's roommate and a Cal Poly engineering student, also joined the team. He has been calling distilleries across the country about the project.

"We're actually talking with the New York [State] Distillers Guild right now and working with them to utilize our platform," said Ewing. "So, right now it's national."

The team is finding that nursing homes have one of the biggest needs, but any at-risk organization can sign up at their website.

Everyone working on the project is a volunteer, but they are accepting donations on a GoFundMe page, which will help them fund their website and other business expenses.

They plan on continuing the project as long as there is a need.