They are the first voice you hear in your worst momentbut for years, their mental health has gone largely unrecognized. On Friday, that changed.The Kenosha Prince Hall Masons presented a $1,000 check to Kenosha Joint Services 91 1 dispatchersmoney that will help revitalize their quiet room, a small space where dispatchers can decompress after the calls that stay with them. The donation will be made annually during Telecommunicators Appreciation Week.Watch: How a group of Kenosha Masons are giving back to support the mental health of 911 dispatchers in the area. 'We tend to get forgotten because we're not seen': Kenosha Masons donate to support dispatchers' mental healthThe initiative was driven by Duke Montgomerya combat veteran and leader of Joppa Lodge #9who says his own experience with PTSD made him recognize the signs in others.Montgomery first connected with TMJ4 News at a Let's Talk Kenosha community listening sessionand reached out shortly after with this mission in mind."This is more than just a donation, this is a recognition of 911 dispatchers and what they hear in those headsets," Montgomery said. "Trauma lives long after the event has passed and when those headsets disconnect, they take that trauma home with them."911 dispatchers are not officially classified as first respondersbut the weight they carry tells a different story. Nikki Beranis has managed the 911 center in Kenosha for 21 years. "For many years we've been behind the scenesno one's considered our mental health," Beranis said. "They don't know we're delivering babies, giving emergency medical instructions to people who have been shot. To get this recognition is amazing and I hope it has a domino effect."Dispatcher Ursula Swift has been answering emergency calls for more than 28 years."They don't call us on their happiest momentsthey call us at the most fearful moments," Swift said. "We tend to get forgotten because we're not seen. We're human too."Joint Services Director Joshua Nielsen says the recognition means as much as the donation itself."For that organization to take their hard-earned money and donate to this cause, we're very grateful," Nielsen said. "To highlight the mental health side of thingsI think it's so important."Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip ...read more read less