A large effort is underway to fit health care workers and first-responders with an important piece of personal protective equipment. Thanks to a community-wide effort, face shields are being made in New Britain.
“Just a true community effort of people donating their talent and expertise,” said Jason Howey, president and CEO of OKAY Industries in New Britain and chair of Hartford HealthCare‘s Central Region board of directors.
The medical-device manufacturing company wanted to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Howey says the company came across an outline to make face shields and decided to produce a massive supply for frontline workers in Connecticut.
Production began April 13 inside New Britain High School, which is currently closed to students and staff. An assembly line was set up in the gymnasium, with volunteers working two shifts to piece together all the components of the face shields, while adhering to social distancing.
“This models shows our students that we have to think beyond ourselves,” said Nancy Sarra, New Britain’s superintendent.
The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain got involved with the fundraising efforts to help pay for all the supplies needed to make the face shields. A long list of donors and generous individuals came forward to help. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving also stepped in, which increased production.
“Together, we have been able to raise almost $50,000 toward the cost of producing 22,000 face shields for this community,” said David Obedzinski, president for The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain.
Hartford HealthCare will be getting 14,000 of the face shields.
“The response from the community and Jason’s leadership has really done an amazing job at helping to protect our individuals who are working on our COVID-19 patients,” said Gary Havican, president of The Hospital of Central Connecticut and MidState Medical Center.
It’s expected to take a couple weeks to produce all 22,000 face shield. In addition to Hartford HealthCare, face shields are being sent to first-responders in New Britain, Berlin, Plainville, Southington and Hartford.
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