KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Local first responders will get the masks they need in their efforts to help in the COVID-19 battle.
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #99 in Kansas City, Missouri, said in a statement Tuesday that they knew local first responders were not getting the protective gear they needed.
The group found 150,000 protective masks and then went to work finding a way to pay for them.
With the help of Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe's office, Jackson County, and the Kansas City police and fire departments, the entire stock of 150,000 masks were bought, according to a news release.
The masks are similar to the N95 protective masks used in hospitals and other care facilities.
The masks should arrive next week.
About 100,000 masks will go to first responders in the metro, and 50,000 will go to first responders across the state.
"These masks are a great first step to keeping our members safe, but more needs to be done,'' said Brad Lemon, president of the FOP. "Additional PPE is necessary for our men and women on the front lines. We also need to make sure we don't find ourselves in a situation where we are sending our members and all first responders into the community without the proper equipment to keep themselves and the community safe from the spread of COVID-19.''
Donations to purchase more personal protective equipment for first responders can be made by going to KCFOP.org.
