The Corporation for National and Community Service and its AmeriCorps NCCC program, in coordination with FEMA, donated more than 14,000 N95 masks to the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for distribution throughout the state to medical professionals.

This donation was made possible through the leadership of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Gov. John Bel Edwards, who helped facilitate the collection of the masks by the Louisiana National Guard from the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region Campus in Vicksburg.

“I am grateful that the national service family was able to support our neighbors in Louisiana as they work to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout the region,” CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart said. “Every day, AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps volunteers, and their fellow Americans are helping communities respond to this emergency.”

N95 masks are among the most sought after pieces of personal protective equipment for first responders and front line medical personnel as they work to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“I am thankful for the hard work being done by U.S. Sen. Cassidy and Gov. Edwards,” Stewart added. “In addition, I greatly appreciate the work by Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser who oversees the important work of Volunteer Louisiana, the state service commission which is a crucial partner of the AmeriCorps State and National program.”