GUELPH – When Darren Devine saw a news clip about how a Kitchener-based technology company was changing operations to make equipment for health workers and emergency responders, he felt compelled to get involved.
He called the company – InkSmith – the next day and purchased 1,000 face shields.
He then called Guelph General Hospital, Guelph fire, police and paramedics and offered to donate the shields if they needed them.
“Guelph Police had enough protective gear, but Guelph firefighters took 200, Guelph paramedics took 200 and Guelph General Hospital took 1,600,” said Devine in a phone interview March 27.
He ordered some more and donated 100 to Rockwood fire, 100 to Elora fire and 800 to Groves Memorial Community Hospital for a total of 3,000 face shields.
Helping hand – Guelph businessman Darren Devine delivered 50 new medical face shields to Centre Wellington Fire Chief Brad Patton on March 31. Submitted photo
“I feel amazing,” said Devine, a financial advisor who made the donation on behalf of his company, Devine and Associates Financial Services Inc.
“And I hope to empower other individuals and business owners to find a way to help.”
When it comes to doing good deeds, “ripples can turn into waves,” he said.
InkSmith recently put out an urgent call to all 3D printer owners in the region to help them produce parts for the face shields to combat COVID-19 and staff at the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) responded.
Staff secured six 3D printers from school sites and are now producing parts for the face masks.
“This has been a great collective effort with many moving pieces,” stated Charles Benyair, UGDSB’s technological education curriculum lead.
In addition to working with InkSmith, Upper Grand intends to work with local health care partners who have a need to produce and distribute 3D-printed medical supplies locally, the release went on to say.
Under the guidance of a team of doctors, InkSmith is assembling, disinfecting and sanitizing the completed face shields, then donating them to hospitals that need the equipment.
Learn more about the PPE face shields initiative on the InkSmith website.
