(LAGRANGE) – LaGrange County authorities are asking for help.

LaGrange County Emergency Management Director Don Wismer is asking manufacturers and others in the county for donations of personal protection equipment for all police, fire and EMS responders.

Wismer says as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the need to protect first responders is also on the rise. He says they are specifically seeking N95 masks, head gear with face shields and full coverage gowns or suits. Wismer says they will gladly accept both disposable or mulit-use equipment that can be sterilized.

Donations of any of these items may be dropped off at the LaGrange County Sheriff's Office on State Road 9, between 8 AM and 4 PM. There is no need to call in advance of making a drop off of equipment. Wismer says you can just drive up to the yellow pole near the overhead door on the west side of the building. Use the call box mounted on the pole to let the Sheriff's Office know you have equipment to drop off.

If you have any of these items to donate, but no way to deliver them to the Sheriff's Department, you can e-mail Wismer at wwismer@lagrangecounty.org. arrange for the items to be picked up.