Portsoy woman Angela Drummond creating PPE for front-line workers
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A PORTSOY woman is working flat-out to help create personal protective equipment for front-line workers in the battle with coronavirus.
Angela Drummond, along with husband Roddy and children Grant (16) and Phillip (15), has been creating as many face masks as possible, with the original plan to help those in need in and around Portsoy, Banff and Turriff.
However, the masks have made it as far afield as Crewe, in Cheshire.
Angela, who runs laser cutting and engraving service GSL Cuts UK part-time, is working with Tony Fullwood, who owns Punx Designs in Turriff, and between them they have so far sent out more than 2000 face masks in four weeks.
Angela said: "We have got the laser machine because we normally make embellishments for crafters out of greyboard.
"When I saw Tony was making these, I thought there must be something we can do to help. Tony shared his 3D printing files and designed one to go on the laser cutter and we have not really looked back.
"It's keeping us busy, sometimes I'm working from 7am until 7pm, and we are getting to help people.
"We have sent out more than 2000 shields so far – as far north as Inverness and as far south as Crewe. In Crewe it was a critical care nurse, who could not get face shields any other way and got in touch via Facebook. We sent 100 down to her, all free of charge."
Angela uses the laser beam to cut out the headband, with laminate sheets going on the front. Grant and Phillip are laminating and hole punching the sheets.
So far, Angela has raised more than £2000 through fundraising online, and has received generous donations from a variety of business throughout Portsoy.
This ensures she can continue to give the PPE away free of charge.
Angela added: "We have had various donations from places in Portsoy. One of the Community Council members applied for donation from a wind farm and they gave us some money.
"There are so many people out there that need these masks – people that have to wear them for work but have to buy them, which is not fair. So we give them away.
"Most people are very grateful."
Angela has been furloughed from her job at charity Friendly Access, where she works as an IT and admin manager, but plans to continue creating PPE when she goes back to work in three weeks time.
To donate and help Angela's cause, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/face-shields-for-key-workers.
Like the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/faceshieldsforkeyworkers/.
