STONEHAM, Mass. — Last week, Boston 25 reported on a Stoneham man making face shields for first responders and medical workers. Since then, JK Automotive Designs has gone from making thousands of shields to tens of thousands of shields and they’ve recruited people at the Teen Center in Brookline to help.
“It started with two shields, and then we wanted to donate up to 500 as a shop. Now we're up to 33,000. It feels good,” said Jeremy Katz, owner of JK Automotive Designs.
Many of the 33,000 shields have already gone to places like Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. They’ve also given thousands to Boston Police, Brookline Police, and local fire departments.
>> Previous: Switching gears: Auto design shop making face shields and intubation cubes for local hospitals
Story continues below Trending Shorts
Remember the auto shop I told you about last week making thousands of face shields for first responders? Well that number has turned into TENS OF THOUSANDS. I’ll explain how on @boston25 at 4:45 and 6:45! pic.twitter.com/ehJM9Dl7x2
— Natalie Rubino (@newswithnatalie) April 10, 2020
“When I saw what Jeremy was doing I knew I could help,” said Faith Michaels, President of Kids Clothes Club.
Michaels is the president of Kids Clothes Club, an organization that donates brand new winter coats to needy children.
“I had money in the bank for Kids Clothes Club Already for next year. I knew that we could raise the money to support him,” said Michaels.
Michael’s helped grow the effort, raising tens of thousands of dollars.
“The Kids Clothes Club, they’ve pretty much funded everything we’ve done so far,” said Katz.
Michaels Connected Katz with Hayley Greenberg, the owner of The Makery in Brookline. Greenberg was already making shields for the group, “Masks for Docs.”
“We said, ‘OK give us more to do.’ So they’re bringing us product so we can package it and get it out to the hospitals,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg organized the group of volunteers at the Brookline Teen Center, who in just two days have assembled close to 2,000 masks.
“We’ve just been having a production line where somebody peels off the film of the plastic, puts a foam strip on to protect the forehead and then another person puts on the strap,” said Ben Fox.
Fox is volunteering with his mother and sister. The family says it’s the least they can do during this time.
“This first best thing we can do is stay home and not talk to anybody but the second best thing we can do is come here and try to provide the things that are lacking,” Eliza Fox said.
Michaels is delivering the masks to the people on the frontlines. She says it’s impossible to understand just how much gratitude each worker has for the live-saving donation.
“They’re absolutely thrilled. They greet me with smiles under their masks and tears under their eyes,” said Michaels.
Katz has helped other auto shops across the country make the shields. He estimates as a group the auto industry has donated 50,000 shields so far. He’s created a GoFundMe which he’ll use to help other auto shops purchase the supplies.
>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
RESOURCES:
- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information
- Boston Coronavirus Information
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
