NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — A North Olmsted volunteer group called Makers for Medics are working together to help slow the spread of COVID-19. They’re using 3D printers to make 20,000 face shields for local health care workers and first responders.
The majority of the group’s 80 volunteers are members of the Maple Intermediate PTA. The rest are spread out across eight counties in Northeast Ohio.
The group uses 120 3D printers at various locations across each of those counties to make the face shields. Around 30 or so are personal printers loaned by volunteers. The rest are loaned from places like Lorain County Community College, Tri-C, and Cleveland Public Schools.
On the road to their goal of 20,000 face shields, the group is aiming to churn out 1,200 a week. After the materials are printed, they’re put into kits and given to PTA members who assemble them and return them. Then, they’re distributed to health care workers at MetroHealth, University Hospitals, and local first responders.
“The process takes in total, per face shield, about six to eight hours. And so that's a tremendous amount of volunteer and community support to make 1200 come out every week,” Chris Glassburn, a North Olmsted city councilman and a founding donor for Makers for Medics, said.
Each shield costs about $1.25 to make. The group relies mostly on community fundraising to make the shields. So far, they’ve raised nearly $8,000, but are trying to reach $10,000.
The group has enough volunteers, however, they're looking for people who own 3D printers and might want to help out to speed up production. If you're interested in donating or loaning a 3D printer, visit Maple PTA's website for more information.
Jade Jarvis is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
