What started out as a way for students in Indiana County to help in the Coronavirus outbreak now has a far-reaching impact.
In a news release from IUP, the Indiana County COVID Avengers are continuing to make face shields for doctors, nurses and first responders, and it has grown beyond just Homer City where it started. The COVID Avengers is now county wide, with students in Marion Center, Penns Manor, Indiana, Blairsville-Saltsburg and Seeds of Faith Christian Academy all taking part. Since their Facebook group went live on April 1st, similar Avenger groups have formed in Cumberland and York Counties and there is even an Avenger group in Indianapolis. Requests have come in for shields from as far away as Baltimore.
The students are being supported by several IUP entities, including Pittsburgh-based alumni Rob Ruscher and David Altrogge helping with marketing and fundraising through a GoFundMe page and an Amazon Wishlist, while IUP’s Research Institute was instrumental in purchasing 3D printers and needed supplies for the mission, and three IUP Students have joined in, using 3D printers borrowed from IUP’s college of Fine Arts.
(Ute Lowery, Tracy Eisenhower, Mark Berezansky of IUP’s Research Institute deliver supplies to Brad Adams’ house. Photo provided by IUP)
Distribution of the completed shields is happening daily, with health care facilities in our region getting first dibs on the masks. IRMC, Excela Health, Punxsutawney Area Hospital, Citizens Ambulance and several fire and police departments have already received shields from the COVID Avengers.
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