Johnny Morris donates 1M face masks

Johnny Morris is "honored" to support the health care industry.

Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris pledged to donate 1 million face masks to health care workers in a partnership with Convoy of Hope.

Convoy of Hope has agreed to distribute the personal protective equipment in every community that has a Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's store, boat center or distribution center, as well as those with a White River Marine Group manufacturing plant. The donation impacts more than 200 communities nationwide amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to news release issued by Convoy of Hope.

“We are extremely grateful to our nation’s health care workers serving on the front lines of this unprecedented global health crisis,” Morris said in the release. “These heroic men and women continue to dedicate their lives to save the loved ones of others, and we are all honored to support them on behalf of everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, and the communities we serve.”

The donation includes 40,000 face masks for health care systems in the Ozarks, including CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield Communities.

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted Bass Pro's operations, as the outdoor retailer earlier this month announced furloughs of a "significant percentage" of its workforce, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. In Springfield, Bass Pro temporarily closed its flagship store at 621 W. Sunshine St. starting late last month. Bass Pro reportedly has kept stores open on a town-by-town basis, depending on local rules regarding the coronavirus, according to media reports.