Got PPE Face Shields?
Got PPE Face Shields?
The answer is YES! thanks to 4,000 face shields donated to New Jersey healthcare facilities
Newton, New Jersey (May 7, 2010) – That question was asked by a volunteer group organized by Jim Hofmann when in late March it became clear that healthcare workers needed PPE, specifically face shields that provide full face protection while treating COVID-19 patients.
Hofmann, a Newton High School technology teacher and robotics coach, started a project to 3D print face shields and named it “PPE Made in the USA.” He reached out to colleagues and soon the group of volunteers grew to over 45 people. Within one month, they donated over 3,000 3D-printed face shields across northern New Jersey.
Initially the need for face shields was greatest at hospitals. But demand also increased at long-term care facilities, especially in Bergen County where Hofmann grew up. Currently Bergen County leads the state with the greatest number of long-term care facilities with outbreaks and the largest number long-term care facility residents who are COVID-19 positive.
The team ramped up production and produced 1,000 face shields for Bergen County, where Hofmann’s sister was the point person to deliver them to long-term care facilities. But how do you transport that quantity of face shields sixty-miles?
Hofmann reached out via his brother, a retired long-time sales rep for Kuiken Brothers in Emerson, a distributor of residential and commercial building products. Nick Kuiken, Vice President of Sales, made arrangements for a company delivery truck to transport the face shields to Closter.
When asked why they got involved Kuiken said “It was a pleasure to assist Jim and his group of dedicated volunteers. When we heard about the work they were doing to help the front line medical workers it was an easy decision to provide the assistance they needed.”
Kuiken Brothers chronicled the delivery on their blog:
Hofmann’s sister made phone calls and delivered the 1,000 face shields to long-term care facilities throughout Bergen County, including CareOne at Wellington in Hackensack. Charlotte Sodora, Senior Executive Director, expressed her gratitude to the team of volunteers who made the face shields. She said “The quality is amazing and will definitely assist my team in protecting themselves and our patients from further harm and spreading of this awful disease.
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The volunteers from Newton have truly inspired us. This donation also represents the good in people. A bunch of complete strangers is spending their time and resources to offer protection to my staff. This act of kindness does not go unnoticed and reaffirms my faith in humanity during this difficult challenge.”
A Go-Fund-Me campaign is ongoing to cover the cost of raw materials used to make the face shields. If you would like to donate, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/ppe-made-in-the-usa.
Anyone interested in helping with production, or any hospitals or long-term care facilities with a need for face shields can email ppemadeintheusa@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of James Hofmann
Caption: Boxes of face shields are loaded in Newton onto a Kuiken Brothers truck for delivery to Closter where they will be distributed to Bergen County long-term care facilities.
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