Local businesses team up to donate PPE

Two local businesses create face shields for first responders by using 3D printing technology.

SO, TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES DECIDEDTO TEAM UP TO MAKE FACESHIELDS LIKE THESE...BY USING 3DPRINTING SO THEY COULDDONATE THEM TO LOCAL HOSPITALS.WAWA GROUP, A COMPANY WHOCREATES 3D PRINTED TECHNOLOGYHAS BEEN RUNNINGTHEIR MACHINES AROUND THE CLOCKCREATING THE LIGHT WEIGHTFACE SHEILDS.SAM JUDA WHO OWNS SEVERAL SAMCOFOODS STORE LOCATIONSIN KERN COUNTY DONATED 7THOUSAND DOLLARS TOLAUNCH THE MAKING OF THE FACESHIELDS."WE'VE BEEN PART OF THISCOMMUNITY FORTHE LAST 30 YEARS AND IT'S TIMETO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.WE'REALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

THE MORETHAT WE ALL PITCH IN AND DOTHINGS TOGETHERAND HELP OUT THE COMMUNITY THEFASTER WE CAN GET OUT OF THISAND GETBACK TO NORMAL."TIM NESH OPERATIONS MANAGER OFWAWA GROUPSAYS THE 24 MACHINES DON'T NEEDMUCH TO OPERATE... AND ITONLY TAKES ABOUT 5 EMPLOYEES TORUN THEPROJECT.RIGHT NOW THE COMPANY ISPRODUCING APPROXIMATELY300 FACE SHIELDS A DAY.

THEBANDS ARE PRINTED AND THESHIELDS ARELASER CUT."IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL FEEL WENEED TOGIVE BACK AND TO TAKE CARE OFEACH OTHER."THE TWO BUSINESSES HOPE TODONATE AS MANY FACESHIELDS AS POSSIBLE TO LOCALFIRST RESPONDERS.THEIR GOAL IS TO PRODUCE AROUND50 THOUSAND SO FIRSTRESPONDERS IN KERN COUNTY FEELPROTECTED."WE THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERSFOREVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING FOR USAND WHATEVER WE CAN DO FOR THEMWE'REHEAR TO SHARE OUR RESOURCES ANDHELP THEM."SAMCO FOODS HAS ALREADY DONATEDTHOUSANDS OFWATER BOTLLES AND HANDSANITIZERS TO LOCAL HOSPITALS.THE BUSINESSES HAVE CREATED AGOFUNDME ACCOUNT WHICHIS ON TURNTO23.COM IF YOU WOULDLIKE TO DONATE ANDHELP THEM CONTIN