Robin Jones (left), contracts manager for UMW Facilities Services, with freshman Alexandra Perrault (center) and her father, Rick Perrault, CEO of Visiontech Solutions Group in Troy, Virginia. Visiontech donated $1,500 worth of PPE to Facilities Services.

Give Robin Jones a task, and she is like a dog on a bone. Charged with finding more personal protective equipment (PPE) for Facilities Services, Jones – contracts manager for the department – reached out to all her usual vendors only to find that their prices had skyrocketed or that they were dealing with large quantities only.

Each day, working from the living room of her home near Lake Anna, Jones would plow through a list of potential vendors, only to find the door slammed shut. Discouraged, she kept at it and called the next company on her list: Visiontech Solutions Group in Troy, Virginia. Voila! Little did she know she was reaching out to kinfolk.

Company CEO Rick Perrault said he would be happy to help. After all, he said, “we are part of the UMW Eagle family.” Turns out Perrault had not only PPE but a daughter, Alexandra, a freshman at UMW. And the best news of all: He donated the supplies. He said that would be his honor and privilege.“

Jones estimates the fair market value of Visiontech’s donation would be upwards of $1,500. Most appreciated were several hundred of the elusive and expensive masks. Also included in the donation were disposable protective suits, face shields, goggles, and a few hand sanitizing items.

Jones said the donation will enable more Facilities workers to return to work on campus and be properly safeguarded.