Agtegra Cooperative based in Aberdeen has donated close to 4,000 pieces of personal protective equipment in the form of respiratory masks to health care facilities in South and North Dakota. Agtegra’s Director of Safety and Environment Beth Locken says it’s in response to the COVID 19 pandemic and all began when they were able to source the equipment from their various locations where they had surplus items.

She says they began distributing the masks to some nearby facilities and then found out there’s a greater need so they expanded their distribution to more health care and assisted living facilities, nursing homes and ambulance services.

Locken says because Agtegra is owned by community members they felt a duty to donate the equipment.

Locken says they’re also working on donating some eyewear and Tyvek suits to health care facilities.