Faculty members from East Stroudsburg University’s art + design department have teamed up with Verde Mantis 3D Printing Co., a company participating in the ESU Business Accelerator, to launch a community-wide effort to provide critically-needed supplies to area hospitals and medical care facilities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Darlene Farris-LaBar and assistant professor Xue (Stella) Dong of ESU’s art + design department have been working in collaboration with Joseph Sinclair of Verde Mantis 3D Printing Co. to develop prototypes of face shields, fabric masks and stethoscopes that have been identified as among the most needed supplies by local medical teams.

According to Farris-LaBar, plans to help the regional health professionals began a few weeks ago when she met with Dong and Sinclair to talk about the capabilities of Verde Mantis’ equipment, coupled with ESU’s 3D Printing Super Lab capabilities to print and laser cut items.

Verde Mantis is a local 3d printer manufacturer who is continuing to provide instructions and resources for life protecting equipment online.

Within days, the team made connections with individuals from the local health care systems, including Sandi Sames, director of Supply Chain for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, who indicated that face shields and fabric masks were desperately needed.

Within a week, plans for deliveries of much needed life protecting equipment was under way. There was a need for two different types of “makers”; those that could sew and those that could utilize technology to 3D print.

Farris-LaBar then created a Facebook page called “Sewing Masks for Pocono Hospitals,” offering instructions for community members who wanted to get involved from their homes while sheltering in place.

Since then, she has connected with community members such as Elizabeth Tilley, WVIA employee and Silvery Moon Guest House owner, who is one of many coordinating the sewing and supplying of fabric face masks.

The community has rallied together with many local neighbors stepping up to make fabric face masks for Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono and St. Luke’s.

Meanwhile, Sinclair, Dong and Farris-LaBar worked in their separate spaces to improve and create prototype face shields. “Feedback on the face shields has been very positive,” said Farris-LaBar.

“We’re continuing to strive towards our goal of creating a sustainable pipeline of equipment to our local hospitals and other health care workers. Meanwhile, our group is creating prototypes of stethoscopes, respirator pieces and other materials as the requests come in from the hospitals. Things are moving rapidly and so we need to be nimble and creative in order to react quickly to what is needed. The collaboration just grows and is incredible. It is a humbling experience to work with all of these talented people to help, share, and work together for a common cause, helping others.”

“Recognizing that the need is greater than just the Pocono region, Farris-LaBar, Dong and Sinclair has come together with a collaborative group of individuals from other colleges, universities and businesses within the region who are joining ESU’s initial efforts in order to streamline the production of materials for local hospitals and helping to raise funds and gather donated supplies in order to sustain their efforts.

Northampton Community College Makerspace, 3D Reactions, another ESU Business Accelerator company, and Computer Techies of Stroudsburg are only a few of those joining in. The group will be launching a website soon called www.comake19.com to inform and connect the community.