• Posted: April 29, 2020
• better communities, Carlos Salinas, Sammy Cozzo

Powering Chicago fourth-year apprentice Sammy Cozzo wanted to try something different with his 3D printer when he saw there was a local and national shortage of PPE gear like masks and gloves.

“We made one masks because we saw a file online of how to do it,” Cozzo explained. “We posted it on Facebook showing that we had made one with the printer. When we made that post we started getting messages asking if we could make more and more of them.”

Since then, Cozzo and his friend Carlos Salinas have used their combined 18 3D printers to churn out roughly 100 masks per day. So far, the pair have been able to distribute around 3,000 masks to local Chicagoland residents who need them most.

“It’s nonstop at this point, they’re running 24/7,” Cozzo said. “I wake up every few hours so I can check on the machines and see if they need anything. Otherwise, they’re running all the time. We deliver on the weekends.”

When the pair initially put their masks on Facebook to see what their friends and family said, the immediate response was “how much?” Cozzo and Salinas decided instead of asking people to pay them, they would take any donations that came in and immediately put them back into material costs.

“We decided now was not the time to make money off this so we told people if they wanted to donate, they could, and that money would go back into making more masks,” Cozzo said.

The pair estimates that they’ve made around $7,000 in donations from a few hundred people. A recent order to the Guatemalan Consulate netted the pair a sizeable donation. Their masks are also being worn by city employees.

Cozzo and Salinas have connected with other masks makers across the country to share ideas and coordinate efforts. So far, the two have been given to Chicagoland residents and others in need across ten states.

“It’s exciting to give back,” Cozzo said. “We realize there’s a problem and we see people who need PPE unable to get it. It’s great we can help in this way.”

The two – who met on Facebook three years ago – said they will continue to make masks for as long as needed.