Nine Line Apparel and Harris Lowry Manton LLP recently joined forces to donate free 1,000 protective masks to Savannah-area first responders serving on the front line of the battle against the spread of the coronavirus. Organizations receiving the mask donations include the Savannah Fire Department, Savannah Police Department, Chatham EMS, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and Chatham County Police Department.
 
The donation is part of Nine Line’s new “Masks for Heroes” initiative, a campaign focused on donating American-made protective masks to essential workers in the healthcare, first responder and military communities.
 
“We’ve been working with the best scientists, the best engineers and the best distributors to make the best masks possible,” said Nine Line Apparel founder and CEO Tyler Merritt. “We have a viable, scalable, U.S.-made solution. I’m extremely proud to help our first responders here in Savannah.”
 
The innovative, heavy-duty mask, which is made in the United States, is currently undergoing FDA approval. Nine Line developed the mask to help solve the current Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortage in the United States.
 
“We’re glad we can play a part in helping out and making these masks available to first responders who need them,” said Steve Lowry, a founding partner at Harris Lowry Manton LLP, a partner in the Masks for Heroes initiative. “We believe that first responders are truly the backbone of our community and want them to help keep them safe.”
 
“As first responders, we are facing many challenges during this pandemic and one of the biggest problems we’re facing is the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment,” said Savannah Fire Department Chief Derek Minard. “With the development of this mask, we will be able to help us stretch our resources for our various agencies. We’re extremely grateful.”