COVID-19 Mask Extenders
Calling all COVID Warriors!
Geri’s Locker is one of several groups finding ways to support our community during this health crisis. After hearing about the need and a solution for relieving the ear pressure from wearing surgical masks all day long, for days on end, we got to work.
Geri’s Locker, a 501(c)3 non-profit, in conjunction with COVID Warriors ATX, is coordinating community members who have access to 3D printers and the availability to print Ear Guards. Not only is the need great and urgent, but it allows us and our children to contribute from our homes in a way that makes a tremendous impact on our heroes.
We are aggregating requests from medical professionals, first responders and many more who need assistance in making wearing their masks tolerable and pain-free. We currently have filled requests for Austin Police Department, Texas Home Health, St. David’s South, Campton Hills Police Department, Texas Oncology, Physicians at South Oaks Family Medicine, Northwest Hills Surgical Center, Dell’s Childrens, Baylor Scott & White, St. David’s Infectious Disease Department, Seton Main Day Surgery and more.
To date we have manufactured and fulfilled almost 2,000 Ear Guards out of the 3,200 that have been requested. All done in the homes and from the hearts of people in our community within the first 15 days of launching this project.
Geri’s Locker also accepts tax-deductible monetary donations that are then used to supply our volunteer manufacturers the materials required to make the ear guards.
How can I Help?
Print. Email for Pick Up. Done.
Click HERE for the public file for your printer
Donate funds for materials:
Check out below for the latest news regarding this project!
Requests
Delivered
Thank You Donors!
Thank You Cards
Thank you Jamie Carpenter, Vanessa Jacob, Ivonne Mercado and River Place Student Theatre for making these AMAZING Thank you cards to go with our Ear Guards to the Essential Workers fighting on the front lines of #COVID19 for all of us!
Your talents go beyond the stage! Y’ALL ROCK!
Check out this amazing youth theater program at www.rpst.show .
#togetherDoingMore
KVUE: COVID Warriors ATX and Geri’s Locker
Check out the story from KVUE about our project…
Author: Hank Cavagnaro
After trying to figure out how they could help, the COVID Warriors ATX group has figured out printing mask extenders would be the best use of their talents.
“We’re not gonna stop. Even if it’s the smallest thing as providing relief to the pressure of their ears, we’re happy to do it.” ~Janan Miller
AUSTIN, Texas — Essential workers who are having to wear masks may know all too well the uncomfortable feeling of the elastic rubbing against your ears.
But some kids here in Austin are hoping they have a solution.
They may look like simple plastic and that’s because, at the end of the day, they are.
“We are producing several hundred a day at this point,” said Janan Miller, whose family is making them.
But it’s what this piece of plastic can do that makes it special. It allows the elastic straps of a mask to come off of the ears, making masks more comfortable when worn for a long period of time.
“It’s really a grass-roots effort, of people of all types.” ~Dionn Schaffner
Life’s Circles
This order was EXTRA special.
Following a social media post from a friend who mentioned her mother, a nurse, was having pain from wearing a mask all day, we reached out and said “We can help with that!”
Dionn: What hospital does your mom work at?
Her: Seton -Main
Dionn: Hey! My mom was a nurse at Seton – Main!
Her: What floor did she work on?
Dionn: Orthopedics – 6 south
Her: My mom says she remembers your Mom! She used to float to the 6th floor sometimes. I just sent her a pic of your mom and she’s sure she worked with her. ? “she was so dynamic and unforgettable. So smart.”
So, now we get to to send these Ear Guards out to some of Geri’s co-workers at Seton.
I can’t think of a better sign from the universe that this project was absolutely the right one to take on during this crisis.
We hear you Mom! ?
Production Update – April 17, 2020
As of April 17th, Covid Warriors ATX has received requests for approximately 3200 mask extenders, with more requests coming in every day! We have distributed over 1200 in 10 days time and have 10+ volunteers printing around the clock to fill the remaining and future orders.
Thanks to the generous donations we have received and our volunteers offering their time and resources, we are able to distribute these at no cost to those in need.
If you or someone you know can help print or is in need of some of these mask extenders, please reach out! We are here to help.
We appreciate our medical professionals, first responders, essential workers and everyone on the front line. We are here to support you!
Together. Doing More.
COVID-19 Mask Extenders 3D Printing Project
Calling all COVID Warriors!
We have started 3D printing surgical face mask strap relievers to aid our medical professionals, first responders, and many, many more, in an effort to make wearing their masks more comfortable.
We have received stories of ears bleeding from the pressure of wearing surgical masks all day long, for days on end. We realized immediately that the need is great and urgent. We also realized that our children and us are able to contribute from our homes in something that makes a tremendous impact on our heroes.
How can I Help?
If you have access to a 3D Printer, print the extenders at home and then send us an email for pick up and distribution.
Donate funds for materials:
Donate through Facebook (no fees) Donate through PayPal
Check out our Project Page for more details..
COVID-19 Extenders News from KXAN
Check out the story from KXAN on the project we are working on…
Hospitals are requiring health workers to wear masks throughout their shifts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
“We’ve heard stories of ears literally bleeding from having to wear a mask all day,” said Janan Miller. She saw a solution on Facebook, 3D-printed mask extenders that a Boy Scout in another city was making, and called her son into the room.
Read the rest of the KXAN Story…..
Project News
Thank You Cards
Thank you Jamie Carpenter, Vanessa Jacob, Ivonne Mercado and River Place Student Theatre for making these AMAZING Thank you cards to go with our Ear Guards to the Essential Workers fighting on the front lines of #COVID19 for all of us! Your talents go beyond the...
KVUE: COVID Warriors ATX and Geri’s Locker
Check out the story from KVUE about our project...Author: Hank Cavagnaro After trying to figure out how they could help, the COVID Warriors ATX group has figured out printing mask extenders would be the best use of their talents."We're not gonna stop. Even if it's the...
Life’s Circles
This order was EXTRA special. Following a social media post from a friend who mentioned her mother, a nurse, was having pain from wearing a mask all day, we reached out and said “We can help with that!”Dionn: What hospital does your mom work at?Her: Seton -MainDionn:...
Production Update – April 17, 2020
As of April 17th, Covid Warriors ATX has received requests for approximately 3200 mask extenders, with more requests coming in every day! We have distributed over 1200 in 10 days time and have 10+ volunteers printing around the clock to fill the remaining and future...
COVID-19 Mask Extenders 3D Printing Project
Calling all COVID Warriors! We have started 3D printing surgical face mask strap relievers to aid our medical professionals, first responders, and many, many more, in an effort to make wearing their masks more comfortable. We have received stories of ears bleeding...
COVID-19 Extenders News from KXAN
Check out the story from KXAN on the project we are working on... by: Chris Davis Posted: Apr 14, 2020 / 05:57 AM CDT / Updated: Apr 14, 2020 / 11:49 AM CDT AUSTIN (KXAN) — Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are running into a problem:...