7 Year Old Stamford Resident Donates Protective Masks to Stamford First Responders

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Thursday, June 11, 2020, Stamford, Connecticut

7 Year Old Stamford Resident Donates Protective Masks to Stamford First Responders

Members of the Stamford Fire Department joined staff members from Stamford Hospital to accept a generous donation of 600 N-95 protective face masks. The masks were a gift from 7 year old Stamford resident, Shea Keen. Shea was inspired to help first responders within her community during their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shea’s grandfather is retired Stamford Assistant Fire Chief John McCabe.

Shea began her fund-raising effort with a community collection table in front of her home in North Stamford. The effort soon expanded with the use of online fundraising through Facebook. The response from family, friends, neighbors and complete strangers was overwhelming with Shea raising over $2500 in a very short period of time. With the assistance of family members, she was able to purchase 600 masks from a medical supply company.

300 masks were donated to hospital staff and 300 were donated to the Stamford Fire Department. The donation will help protect first responders and healthcare professionals in Stamford in their duties in responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Ms. Keen. It is inspiring to learn of someone as young as Shea becoming so engaged in her community and assisting first responders. She truly demonstrates what a whole-of-community approach to mitigation looks like.”

Deputy Chief Matt Palmer, Health & Safety Officer, Stamford Fire Department

Event pictures provided below and cleared for media use.

**Photo credit to Firefighter Brien Adams, Stamford Fire Department