IRIS USA donated 8,400 disposable face masks to the Village of Pleasant Prairie Police Department to support public safety personnel.
“IRIS USA has stepped up time and time again to assist in our operation to keep the community safe,” said David Smetana, Police Chief. “Our Public Safety Officers are masked up and out working with the public every day. The masks are excellent supplies, and the donation couldn’t be timelier.”
There is a need for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to protect against the spread of COVID-19. The timing of the mask donation aligns with the new executive order requirements that Governor Evers announced on Thursday, July 30, that will require Wisconsin residents to wear face coverings. The July 31 donation is the second substantial contribution of disposable face masks that IRIS USA has made to the Village. The earlier donation was given in May, consisting of 10,000 face masks.
“The Village is exceptionally grateful to have a wonderful community partner like IRIS USA,” said Nathan Theil, Village Administrator. “We are inspired by the generous donation that will help keep the Village’s public safety personnel protected.”
In April, IRIS USA announced plans to start making disposable facemasks at their 570,000-square-foot, 250-employee manufacturing plant in the Village. The company has invested $10 million into new machinery to produce disposable face masks. The plant’s upgrades are nearly complete, and the facility plans to begin manufacturing disposable face masks in October. Once the new equipment is operational, the facility will create an estimated 120 million disposable face masks each month.