Nintendo Donates Mask Stockpile to Coronavirus Responders

North Bend, Washington is like most every other town in the world currently, on the hunt for essential medical supplies to stop the spread and flatten the curve of COVID-19.

They’re fortunate to have a famous corporate resident that happened to have 9,500 N95 masks on hand: Nintendo.

North Bend is home to one of Nintendo’s production facilities. The facility had the masks in case of an emergency of its own. In a post made Tuesday on the town’s website, local government officials said all those masks have been donated, by the company, toward the greater effort:

Nintendo representative Jerry Danson contacted Eastside Fire & Rescue (EF&R) to generously donate over 9,500 N95 Particulate Respirator masks.

The N95 Respirator masks and other personal protective equipment are among the most requested items for first responders and health care providers.

Danson stated the masks were originally purchased for emergency preparedness planning; however, amidst the COVID-19 crisis, knew there were needed elsewhere. Eastside Fire & Rescue staff will distribute the masks throughout the region to address immediate needs, including the City of North Bend.

Officials said they “deeply appreciate the generous donation” from the company.