Ithaca, NY (WENY) -- The Ithaca community is coming to the rescue of medical staff. Cornell University and Ithaca Generator are using 3D printers to build and deliver much-needed safety equipment to medical professionals on the front line.

Thousands of visors and personal protective equipment (PPE) have been shipped off. Since starting last week, a Cornell Associate Dean and the president of Ithaca Generator say they're not stopping.

Hundreds of members of the Ithaca community and beyond are providing support to medical professionals by buildings and providing protective gear for them. The campaign to turn out thousands of visors and PPEs started following an urgent email request for supplies last week from the Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City.  Eventually, the email chain reached Jenny Sabin, the Arthur L. and Isabel B. Wiesenberger Professor in Architecture and an Associate Dean for Design Initiatives at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

“I reached out to Dean, Meejin Yoon and said you know this is urgent, this is essential work,” said Sabin.

That's when Sabin and others got to work. Within days a network of alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters and even businesses like Ithaca Generator, was formed.

“They expected, they would need 20,000 face shields a day at the apex. So our whole network is making about a thousand a day,” said Ithaca Generator President, Elliot Wells.

Wells even started a fundraising campaign. On Thursday, they exceeded their goal by 50%. Wells said they had such an outpour of support, he raised the goal. The idea behind the fundraiser is to raise money to purchase 3D printers for people and allow Ithaca Generator to and train more people on how to use them. Wells said they have around 15 now, with another order on the way.

“Across the Ithaca based campus, has produced about 5800, assembled protective shields,” said Sabin.

The 3D printing campaign has been so successful that it fulfilled the need for Weill Medical College. But Wells, Sabin, and others aren’t done using their 3D printers. An organization downstate is working to gather face shields and PPEs and determine which hospitals are most at need.

“This was a way to tap into our creativity and our skill sets and to immediately get to work,” said Sabin.

Sabin and Wells agree that it's powerful knowing every PPE printed will make a difference.

“We're just one of many groups doing this so hopefully we can all do our part and make a difference,” said Wells.

This work is being done all while the country could soon hit the top of the curve, and with that happening, certainly, more face shields and more PPEs will be needed.

Ithaca Generators is still looking for donations. You can go to their fundraising page at, https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/train-and-equip-more-3d-printing-volunteer?fbclid=IwAR1TPZXcsHUMAIgAliK0hInRzKo-_tGicU1Nyj_PsC4gSIwvsVkB_vSCrDM.

You can also help Cornell by emailing, Jenny Sabin at [email protected], Amy Kuceyeski at [email protected] or Kirstin Petersen at [email protected].