Have your community activities changed during the last several months?

Please summarize your efforts

I created a map for Lithuania for medical personnel to request PPE, and found myself responsible for managing the distribution of face shields for Lithuania's entire public healthcare system. The system was designed to cover the essentials; unmet needs of public hospitals and clinics - their most basic needs and those of their colleagues. We used the Prusa face shield from Czechoslovakia becaause it was open-source and easy to print in the filaments that were available. A Facebook group, a spreadsheet, and a map coordinated over 300 people to support their country. With almost 500 requests, the project has provided 14,474 visors to almost every public hospital in Lithuania. Every request was fulfilled, entirely via donated goods and services; no money exchanged.

I also created a map for medical personnel to request personal protection equipment (PPE) for Brazilian hospitals for e-NABLE Brasil, who have delivered over 100,000 masks all across Brazil.

What are the current needs of your community?

What are the current needs for your chapter and activities?

Although the project began as a continuous 24-hours effort intended to provide a temporary stopgap solution, we were one of the country's best solutions for face masks. Borders were closed, and public institutions couldn’t afford the inflated costs of PPE.

Last week, after a 2 month marathon, the team reached the finish line. Every request was fulfilled at the beginning of June. Our reported cases have drastically declined since then.

Have you received promotional filament to support your efforts?

How have you used these materials?

I began sourcing materials with my own funds. A local company contributed an endless supply of transparent PETA rolls used for visors free of charge. Laser cutting, die cutting, and elastic were offered from others. A friend with an online furniture business volunteered his trucks to provide next day deliveries of materials to makers all around the country. Armed with supplies, volunteers covered the costs of 3D printing, assembly, sterilization, and final deliveries to their local hospitals.

Have you partnered with any other chapters, groups, or organizations?

What advice can you offer for others working to contribute to their community needs?

Delivery for donated material was critical. We were contacted from a group in Spain looking for advice and that was my suggestion: partnerships to cover delivery. Clear organization helps when coordinating with hundreds of people. Also, be prepared to be emotionally drained with limited sleep and desperate medics as hospitals run out of supplies. Providing PPE to hospitals through individual medics circumvented public hospital liability issues as well, which was key to our success in moving fast to keep pace with demand.