Calvin University Offering Free Rooms to Police, Spectrum Workers

During the coronavirus pandemic Calvin University is supplying rooms at their Prince Conference Center to front line police officers and Spectrum Health staff.

According to a release, the GRPD reached out to Calvin seeking potential housing for officers who may need to quarantine due to being exposed to a presumed positive case of COVID-19, or having a family member who is presumed positive.

David Kiddle, deputy chief of GRPD said,

Our officers are used to facing dangers daily but aren’t used to bringing that danger home with them. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed that.  An officer’s worst fear now is that they could potentially bring the virus into their homes as a result of their duties, endangering their own families. So, it’s important to have a way to help any of our officers who are exposed to a presumed positive case be able to quarantine for 14 days, so that they can keep their families safe and get back to their front-line work as soon as possible.

Dr. Laura Champion, director of Health Services at Calvin, was made aware of a similar housing need from Spectrum Health.

In response, Calvin is offering up a full floor of the university’s Prince Conference Center to Spectrum Health employees and another full floor to the Grand Rapids Police Department.

Each floor has 23 rooms available.

The university is providing the rooms free of charge and is also allowing guests to order from Calvin Dining Services with free delivery.

Jim English, vice president for finance at Calvin University said,

“We are grateful for all of the healthcare workers and local law enforcement officers who are serving on the front lines of this pandemic, We see each other as trusted partners. More importantly, we see one another as neighbors, and this is a way we can live out our commitment of being good neighbors.”