A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a major problem as the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect our community.

Makers have been stepping up.

Atlanta Beats COVID (ABC) is a group of volunteer makers that are working to supply health care providers and other community members with the necessary PPE to stay safe.


“Since late March, we have delivered over 22,650 PPE to our community,” said Caroline Dunn, the communications director for ABC. “We are now shifting our focus to partnering with schools to provide face shields to teachers.”

ABC is a partnership between Decatur Makers, Maker Station, Roswell Firelabs, Gwinnett Geekspace, Atlanta Face Shields, Atlanta Shield Makers and other independent makers who have pivoted from practicing their craft to producing face shields and equipment like intubation enclosures and bias tape makers.

“When the Sewing Masks for Atlanta Hospitals (SMAH) group had trouble sourcing bias tape makers for sewing cloth masks, our volunteers started 3D printing bias tape makers,” said Dunn. “Our merry band of makers are here to help our community in unconventional ways.”

If you are involved in or know of an organization working to bring relief to the Atlanta community during the coronavirus pandemic OR you are with an organization with supplies that you don’t know where to donate, please email us at Shannon.n.Dominy@gmail.com. 

 
WHO’S HELPING  

ATLANTA BEATS COVID

■ Services: ABC is producing PPE such as face shields and other equipment such as intubation enclosures and bias tape makers.

■ Where supplies have gone: ABC has donated to various Atlanta hospitals. It has also provided PPE to COVID-19 testing sites, assisted living facilities, clinics, first responders, dental offices, MARTA and other nonprofits.

■ How to help: ABC is looking for volunteers to help assemble and sanitize face shields, deliver raw materials and finished products, and manufacture products. Additionally, as requests for PPE from schools increase, ABC welcomes any volunteers who want to help with production, assembly or deliveries at atlantabeatscovid.com.

■ Where to donate: Cash and material donations can be made at: atlantabeatscovid.com/donate. Please add in a note indicating you would like your donation to be directed toward Atlanta Beats COVID.

■ How to get help: ABC asks that an authorized representative from each organization makes a request for the entire group through the website: atlantabeatscovid.com.