Peabody departments get PPE donation

Bailey Penner, Peabody volunteer firefighter, dons a protective face shield and fist bumps Becky Nickel, PCF Director, as Bruce Burke, Peabody Police Chief; Randy Frank, Director of Marion County Emergency Management; and Mark Penner, Peabody Fire Chief, look on.

Peabody, KS Peabody Police and Fire Departments are better equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to respond to medical calls during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a grant from Peabody Community Foundation (PCF) to Marion County Emergency Services. Randy Frank, county Emergency Management Director, presented supplies including gloves, face shields, masks, and gowns on July 7 at the Peabody Fire Station to Peabody police and firefighters.

Police Chief Bruce Burke expressed his appreciation to PCF board member NM Patton and PCF Director, Becky Nickel, saying, Thank you, this equipment is hard to come by many of my vendors either don’t have it or the price is very high. Keeping people safe from COVID-19 is very important.

Frank who applied for the grant said the timing of receiving funds to purchase PPE was great. This will help us get ready for the second wave if there is one, he said.

Nickel explained that funds for this PPE came to the foundation from local donors who contacted PCF in March wanting to assist with COVID-related needs in the community. This is a gift from our community members to meet our community’s needs, she said.

Since activating its Community Response fund in March, PCF has made two additional grants for COVID relief, one to Marion County FACT for groceries and one to the American Cancer Society for services in Peabody. The PCF Community Response Fund is a pass-through fund, unlike most other PCF funds which are endowed. Funds continue to be available and qualifying not-for-profit organizations that are experiencing additional needs due to the pandemic may contact PCF about applying for a grant. Contributions are also being accepted to the fund. Further information is available from PCF at 620-951-4022 or by emailing admin@peabodycommunityfoundation.org. PCF is an affiliate of Central Kansas Community Foundation.

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