My stand AgAinst COVID-19


My Fight Against

COVID - 19

Manufacturing has now been halted do to a lack of demand. To date, I have distributed over 2,300 face shields to health care providers and front line workers in the Philadelphia area. This entire project was made possible by donations from our GoFundMe community and the generosity of local businesses. My GoFundMe page is no longer accepting donations as I have far exceeded the goal and production has ceased. I have left the link below if you want to check it out.

Time lINE

Truly A Blink Of An Eye


March 12th : The last day of school.

March 20th : Started throwing the idea around about how I could help.

March 22th : Began researching and experimenting with different PPE designs.

March 24th : Contacted NYCPPE.

March 25th : Started manufacturing on my printer for NYCPPE.

March 26th : Made the realization that there were no equivalent groups to NYCPPE in my area and that Philadelphia was going to need PPE also.

March 27th : Approached SHHS (High School) to borrow their 3D printer to increase production.

March 29th : Picked up the school 3D printer.

March 30th : PPE shipped to NYCPPE : 80

Was featured on the WSSD Facebook page and contacted by east coast robotics association about them loaning me 3D printers. Also contacted by Fox 29 about an interview. Switched from just printing and shipping to New York City, to front material cutting, final assembly, and local distribution.

April 1: Fox News 29 Aired my story and a link to my GoFundMe, launched the same day, with an initial exit goal of $1,000. Picked up 7 more 3D printers from east cost robotics.

April 2 : PPE Donated : 50

April 3 : GoFundMe goal raised to $3,000 to make 3,600 units.

April 5 : PPE Donated : 100

April 6: PPE Donated : 150

Started working with Pineville PPE manufacturers group for assistance in distribution .

April 7: PPE Donated : 75

April 8: PPE Donated : 60

April 10: Front material (acetate) shortage issues after receiving faulty material. We immediately started searching for a replacement. We found a dealer and initiated chemical testing and background research, finally arranging an overnight shipment with enough material for 4,000 units. Also compiled MSDS information and results from our testing for appropriate cleaning and handling documentation.

April 11: PPE Donated : 131

April 13: PPE Donated : 215

April 14: PPE Donated : 63

April 15: PPE Donated : 33

April 17: PPE Donated : 60

April 19: PPE Donated : 310

April 20: PPE Donated : 25

First California shipment.

April 22: PPE Donated : 135

April 23: PPE Donated : 30

April 25: PPE Donated : 120

April 26: PPE Donated : 6

April 27: PPE Donated : 45

April 29: PPE Donated : 105

April 30: PPE Donated : 105

May 1: PPE Donated : 210

May 3: PPE Donated : 30

May 10: PPE Donated : 4

May 14: PPE Donated : 105

May 15: PPE Donated : 19


Who I Helped

Frontline nurses and doctors. EMT Paramedics

Vitas Hospice

Ridley Park Fire Co

Einstein medical center - Elkins park

Front line workers at 14 hospitals at Geisinger Health System

Labor patients, postpartum and babies

Holy redeemer hospital

Emergency Room

Long Term Care (Attleboro)

Philadelphia Fire dept.

Dental

Dental office

Crozier

Special Delivery Unit at CHOP

Genesis Healthcare Belvedere Nursing and Rehabilitation

Power back Rehabilitation

Home Health Hospice Care

Riddle Hospital

Residential Services for I/DD Homes

Providence Rehab &. Healthcare

St Francis Country House

DCMH Labor Room

Fair Acres LTC , Lima Pa

Urological Surgery Center

Genesis Healthcare

Fair Acres Geriatric Center

Dental office

Pollard Plastic Surgery

Swarthmore Fire

Some pictures that were sent to me showing who I helped.

Photo gallery

Live Stream

I maintained a live stream of the 3D printers in action for much of the project. I stopped streaming about half-way through to focus on printer maintenance and production.

Featured locations

The Story

In March of 2020, with COVID-19 shutting down school, and therefore my social life, I quickly realized that I could either sit at home and grovel in my worries (about what COVID-19 would do to the world, my world, and my family), or I could do something to make a difference, while also giving myself the peace of mind that I was doing all I could to prevent an undesirable outcome. I decided to start printing face shields (Personal Protective Equipment - PPE). Soon enough, I found a group in New York City to send them to. The day after I started printing, I reached out to my school district and asked if I could borrow their 3D printer to expand my production. In response, my school agreed and posted an article about what I was doing on their Facebook page. Thereafter, things skyrocketed. Within 24 hours, I was contacted by local robotics teams and businesses who were offering to loan their 3D printers to me, bringing the total number of printers to ten. However, things still didn’t slow down.

One of the teachers I talked to about borrowing equipment had let Fox News 29 know what I was up to, and they wanted to do a story on me! It was an experience I’ll never forget; I was partly terrified. It was go time! When I had first contacted the school, I had envisioned myself becoming a significant player in helping supply these essential pieces of equipment, but now, it was time to make that happen. It was the turning point, and it worked. The news story aired. (https://www.fox29.com/news/local-teen-uses-3d-printer-to-help-healthcare-workers-in-the-covid-19-fight) I watched it, intimidated and hopeful, but more than anything else, I was a little embarrassed, even though the news story was great! The next day, I woke up to find that the GoFundMe page I had started had raised over $1,000, a third of its goal. It was a great moment—but the pressure was on to make things happen.

With the donated funds and materials, I was able to repair and bring online 7 out of 10 printers, and immediately print 300 frames and fully assemble 200 shields for delivery to nurses and doctors desperate for the equipment. Five short days before, this had not even been imaginable. Ultimately, I was able to provide over 2,300 face shields to frontline workers. It’s easy for me to say that I had never been more tired or stressed in my life, but I can also say for certain I had never before felt more fulfilled. I had the feeling of being in the right place at the right time. I felt like a part of the civilization I had always looked up to—the people who for World War II built ships and planes in record time. I feel like I now have a small place among them in the history of manufacturing might, and the story of how the American people work together to survive. I had no idea what I could accomplish. All it took for me to find out was to say yes to my own ideas, to understand that someone had to do it, and realize there was no reason that that someone couldn’t be me.