CLEVELAND, Ohio — Thank you — two simple words. But for many, saying them isn’t enough to show appreciation to healthcare workers during this coronavirus pandemic. 

Hundreds of people are showing their thanks by supporting the “Face Shields That Say Thanks” charity initiative started by Youngstown-based non-profit Advanced Methods in Innovation.

• Over the the past two weeks, more than 800 3D-printed FDA-approved face shields have been delivered to essential workers
• The face shields have personalized messages printed on their visors
• The company is now making the face shields available for purchase, for personal use and non-essential businesses

“Donors could put messages on this, on the headband, to these frontline workers to express their appreciation and show their support,” said Julie Michael Smith.

Julie Michael Smith is the executive director of Advanced Methods in Innovation. She says over the past two weeks, through the power of 3D printing, more than 800 FDA-approved face shields with personalized messages printed on their visors have been delivered to essential workers .

“What they're doing is hard work. and they really appreciate that strangers are supporting their efforts and thinking about them and willing to open up their pocketbooks and their hearts and, you know, craft these messages and support their efforts so they can be safe, and so their family members can be safe as well," she said.

Advanced Methods in Innovation is part of the Youngstown Business Incubator. Smith says once COVID-19 hit and schools closed, the company she also works for, Vista AST, was supportive of her nonprofit and the idea of using their resources to support those who needed it most. Vista AST helps bring manufacturing technologies and a STEM-based curriculum into educational institutions across the U.S.

“We have fifty 3D printers. How can we harness the power of our 3D printers and our staff to print, you know, to produce face shields? So, we started designing face shields,” Smith said.

She says donors can choose the recipient organization or Advanced Methods in Innovation will choose essential organizations in need for them.

“We have shipments today going to University Hospital. another shipment going to Cleveland Clinic. We've distributed to home health care facilities, hospice, a number of nursing homes, and volunteer fire departments,” she said.

The company only has a staff of six. Smith says it’s the technology that has allowed them to show their thanks to hundreds of frontline workers so quickly. 

“It is the beauty of 3D printing, the fact that it is so dynamic and is so flexible, we've been able to help fill this void, which is not only just here in Northeast Ohio and in our state, but it's throughout the country,” she said.