PITTSBORO — Paul Drake wanted to do something to help.
An architectural designer with Hobbs Architects in Pittsboro, Drake has been working remotely and volunteering at the Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge — a nonprofit which takes in abused and neglected farm animals and provides them a permanent home — since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Along with his wife Lenore Braford, who operates the animal refuge, and other volunteers at the nonprofit, he began making medical face shields — more than 140 so far — and donating them to hospitals and facilities in the area.
“I was just motivated by wanting to feel like I can do something,” Drake said. “I wanted to figure out how my skill set could help. I immediately thought of the 3-D printer.”
A 3-D printer is similar to a household printer, differing in that it prints using plastic to make three-dimensional objects. It all begins with a 3-D modeling program to create a shape. That file is sent to another program called a slicer, which divides the object into layers. The 3-D printer reads those layers, pushing plastic from a spool into a hot nozzle which moves around and “prints” the object in layers that are less than a millimeter each.
“It’s still in the stage of tinkerers and hobbyists,” Drake said. “If you’re that type of person, it’s a really powerful tool.”
Drake has used the equipment in the past to create prosthetics prototypes for animals at the Refuge that had undergone amputations, and other “little things that help” with the work there. Drake “stumbled upon the file” for the 3-D-printed face mask while researching ways to help in the battle against coronavirus. 3DVerkstan, a Swedish tech firm, created the file as an open-source document for anyone to use. The company’s website says the file has been shared more than 100,000 times and the masks created from the program have been used in hospitals throughout Europe.
After getting the “thumbs up” from hospitals, Drake and volunteers from Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge got to work making protective gear. Most of the 140 masks have gone to Duke University Hospitals, but they have also sent about 25 to The Laurels of Chatham after hearing of the outbreak of COVID-19 there.
“The Refuge’s daily activities all involve giving to others,” Braford said. “We tend to attract volunteers who are of that kind of spirit. When Paul first found the design, it was a natural for all of us to fit it into our daily routine and felt right for all of us.”
Drake said he feels the work is his way of contributing during the pandemic, and that others can do the same thing.
“Look at your skills and see what’s in that skill set that might be able to help,” Drake said. “There are so many different ways that you can contribute even in a small way. Look to other people who are helping and see ‘I can do that too.’ There are a lot of smart people out there thinking about this.”
Braford said the face-mask creation falls right in line with the Refuge’s mission — “taking your personal time and resources and setting them aside to help others that aren’t friends or family,” she said.
“Though the Refuge helps with other species, this is us helping our own species,” Braford said. “Every single person can make a difference in our society. It may seem like a small thing, but one person really does make a difference. Everything we do really does make an impact.”
The team has now set up an Amazon Wish List where friends, family and supporters of the Refuge have been donating for more supplies. The Wish List is online at www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1OVGXXVB0Z18A/.
Reporter Casey Mann can be reached at caseymann@chathamnr.com.