The awareness of a need for masks during the current coronavirus public health crisis quickly resulted in Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES employees arranging for the 3D printing of masks to be donated locally to healthcare facilities and first responders.
The first set masks was donated on Monday, March 30, to Bassett Health Center in Herkimer, and the next set of masks will go to the Ilion Fire Department.
“Our community continues to come together and battle this pandemic collaboratively,” Herkimer BOCES Director of Technical Education Kathy Fox said. “Masks will continue to be made and donated as we move forward.”
Herkimer BOCES knew of a local need for masks through Herkimer BOCES Special Education Coordinator Kelly Rowland’s sister Patricia Zink at the Bassett Health Center in Herkimer. Herkimer BOCES received a blueprint from Budmen Industries and started making preparations to print masks.
After a few emails and phone calls making preparations, Herkimer BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo brought Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies to his home and started printing the headbands for the masks at home because it would allow him to get the most masks created.
Herkimer BOCES gathered the rest of the materials from a variety of locations including a donation from the Herkimer Lowe’s. Many people donated rubbing alcohol, rubber gloves, transparencies and Ziploc bags.
Over the weekend, Rowland’s children, Central Valley students Tria, 13, and Iley, 10, assisted in the final assembly of 20 masks.
“In times of need, our community has always stepped up to collaborate and provide support,” Fox said. “This is just one example of a family member sharing a need and the quick response of the Herkimer BOCES family going into action. I am extremely proud to be from the Mohawk Valley in the heart of Central New York.”
Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent Sandra Sherwood also takes pride in how Herkimer BOCES has stepped up to assist with the need for masks.
“Our BOCES team is truly a family that cares deeply about our students and their communities,” Sherwood said. “When the possibility of supporting our healthcare workers materialized, our staff members went into action by collecting materials and figuring out how they could help. This dedication and commitment to others are at the heart of our work and one of the greatest attributes of this region. I am so proud of the spirit that shines through in times of crisis.”
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education Coordinator Kelly Rowland’s children, Central Valley students Tria, 13, and Iley, 10, assist in the final assembly of 20 masks over the weekend to be donated by Herkimer BOCES to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis. Herkimer BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo is using Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies along with donated supplies to create the masks.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education Coordinator Kelly Rowland’s children, Central Valley students Tria, 13, and Iley, 10, assist in the final assembly of 20 masks over the weekend to be donated by Herkimer BOCES to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis. Herkimer BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo is using Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies along with donated supplies to create the masks.
Masks created by Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES to be donated to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis were packaged over the weekend and prepared for delivery. More masks will be created and donated going forward.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education Coordinator Kelly Rowland’s sister Patricia Zink at the Bassett Health Center in Herkimer receives a donation of masks from Herkimer BOCES on Monday, March 30. Herkimer BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo is using Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies along with donated supplies to create the masks to be donated by Herkimer BOCES to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education Coordinator Kelly Rowland’s daughter Tria, 13, assists in the final assembly of 20 masks over the weekend to be donated by Herkimer BOCES to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis. Tria and her sister Iley, 10, both Central Valley students, worked on assembling the masks. Herkimer BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo is using Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies along with donated supplies to create the masks.
The Herkimer Lowe’s donated a variety of supplies for the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES effort to create masks to be donated to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis. Herkimer BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo is using Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies along with donated supplies to create the masks.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mike Cimo is using Herkimer BOCES 3D printers and supplies along with donated supplies to create the masks to be donated by Herkimer BOCES to local healthcare facilities and first responders during the coronavirus public health crisis, and Herkimer BOCES Special Education Coordinator Kelly Rowland’s children, Central Valley students Tria, 13, and Iley, 10, assisted in the final assembly of 20 masks over the weekend. Pictured here is one of the 3D-printed headbands for the masks.