The message came in loud and clear.
The Hamblen County Coronavirus Task Force asked the public to donate any personal protection equipment they had to area fire stations, so it could be distributed to local emergency and health responders.
Chuck Carter, supervisor for Hamblen County Career & Technical Education, said several teachers received the message.
“Our East and West (high school) teachers sprung into action immediately,” he said.
They knew that the schools had desperately needed personal protection equipment in health science and emergency responder classes. They also knew that with school closed and the novel coronavirus spreading rapidly across the nation that those first responders needed it more than they did.