With COVID-19 on the rise, personal protective equipment (PPE) is in high demand and short supply. Medical professionals in hard hit areas are struggling with the shortage constantly being put at risk while doing their jobs.
Big name celebrities have been stepping up to do their part and Yankees slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, decided to join in. Wednesday, Stanton announced he would donate the first 12,000 face masks. Stanton has partnered with Voodoo Manufacturing, a 3D printing, prototyping and design company, to use 3D printers to mass produce PPE for those in need.
The 12,000 masks already produced will be split between his current home, New York, and his childhood home, Southern California. Each area will receive 6,000 face masks to be split between local hospitals. The New York recipients are BronxCare Health in The Bronx, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens.
You all are the ones we need to be thanking! Thank you for leading the way! https://t.co/TR5Uns6DtV
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) April 28, 2020
When asked why face masks, Stanton told The NY Post’s Ken Davidoff:
“I’ve kind of been doing research and seeing what they need the most, what can benefit them through the long haul of this. I know they’ve had to exchange masks throughout the day, and with the limitation on masks in general, I thought it would be a smart idea to get those face shields to cut that number down. The shields are reusable. You can wash them and keep them going. That was the idea there.”
Stanton has no plans to stop his generosity during this time of crisis. His next step is to provide an addition 3,000 face masks to bring his total to 15,00o face masks donated. After that, Stanton plans to “ keep it going wherever else I can help in this crazy time.”
