Santa Cruz engineers start fundraiser to provide face shields for health care workers

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) Two Santa Cruz engineers, looking for a way to help health care workers at our local hospitals, decided to start a fundraiser.

They considered using a 3-D printer to make face shields, but realized the production would be too slow. However, they're using their work connections to place an order with a manufacturer in China.

Brian Peterson started a fundraiser on GoFundMe early this week, and as of Thursday evening it has raised more than $7,000.

“We could get big quantities of them and relatively cheaply," Peterson said. "Hopefully by the time we place the order we’ll have [the face shields] in Santa Cruz in about a week, and we’ll start distributing."

The plan is to distribute the face shields to Dominican and Watsonville Community Hospital.

The fundraiser will be open until Sunday evening, when Peterson and his colleague will place the order.