MENTOR, Ohio — A local company is joining the fight against coronavirus in a big way.
Mentor-based Avery Dennison announced Thursday it will manufacture 500,000 face shields and donate them to hospitals nationwide, including the Cleveland Clinic and the Lake Health System. The organization says the shields will be easy for medical professionals or others to wear and assemble and are also "designed with user comfort in mind."
"We can’t thank Avery Dennison enough for stepping up the way you are for Lake Health Hospital System," Mark Flash, executive director of Lake Health, said. "You are serving the community and our team members in an extraordinary way and directly saving lives."
Ohio and states around the country are still attempting to stock up on personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to protect first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. Besides the new initiative with the masks, Avery Dennison has also participated in initiatives such as Project N95 and GetUsPPE.org.
"We urge every company in the manufacturing sector that can repurpose production to join the battle against COVID-19," Neal Carty, business director for North America and senior director of global research and development at Avery Dennison Medical, said in a statement. "Our team has shown tremendous agility and creativity, which is a testament to their dedication during these extraordinary times."
Hospitals or organizations in need of the face shields can contact Avery Dennison here.