Lions head coach Matt Patricia is giving back to the Detroit community in these trying times. Patricia has partnered with the Empowerment Plan, a local organization that helps homeless people find sustainable employment, to manufacture personal protective equipment for medical professionals to help with the treatment of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Lions have been partnered with Empowerment Plan for years, but Patricia personally kickstarted the organization to use their resources to help make surgical masks. It will employ up to 15 workers once fully realized.
“They truly help people get out of the bottom,” Patricia said via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “Let’s put them back to work in a safe environment. Let’s get them up and running for the first month and just let them know whatever it is, we got them and we’ll figure it out.”
Even one of Patricia’s noted critics, former Lions safety Quandre Diggs, showed his approval for his old coach’s selfless act:
This big time! ✊🏾 https://t.co/zos94dImee
— Nino (@qdiggs6) April 3, 2020
Good job, coach!