Shield Our Heroes NYC

New York City hospitals and hospitals across the USA are running out of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep healthcare workers safe while they care for the increasing number of COVID-19 patients. It has become progressively more difficult for hospitals to obtain masks, face shields and other PPE as there is not an adequate supply being produced. New York City alone is signing contracts to purchase 1.5 million face shields in the next 3 months, as reported in the Wall Street Journal on March 26th.  It is imperative that we increase local production of PPE to meet the growing demand, and to sustain supplies throughout this pandemic. At the same time, thousands of workers have lost their jobs, and there is a massive unemployment desert in Brooklyn, where workers for local manufacturers, food services and artists no longer have a way to support themselves.

Shield Our Heroes NYC is working to address both of these problems by establishing manufacturing facilities in Brooklyn to produce plastic face shields for healthcare workers. Production has started at our first facility, and  the first 10,000 face shields will be delivered to Mount Sinai Hospital during the week of March 30th. Funds are urgently needed to purchase raw materials and equipment to expand our manufacturing facilities and to hire more workers in order to assemble and deliver the 500,000 face shields currently on order.

Donations will be used to purchase and secure materials needed for the production of face shields, including plastic, foam, and elastic bands, and to pay workers a living wage.

Our goal:  To increase our manufacturing capacity to 50,000 shields per week to help protect healthcare workers, and to provide employment for Brooklyn residents who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.

Our commitment: We will post information about our production and deliveries of face shields and about the institutions which are using our products.

Our story: Rob Herschenfeld woke one morning 3 weeks ago and realized he needed to figure out what he could do to help to address the problems created by the Covid-19 pandemic. A conversation with his friend,  a regional emergency coordinator identified a shortage of face shields. Doctors were using goggles and masks that deteriorated too quickly and left them vulnerable during exposure to patients with Covid-19. Rob enlisted the help of his partner Jessica and long time friend Pat Chirico. He sketched a design, they created prototypes, and he rode his bicycle to Mount Sinai, and secured their first order. 
They have pulled together as a team to source materials, produce components and hire workers to assemble and deliver face shields.




Face shields in production




Who We Are:

Rob Herschenfeld graduated from MIT with a degree in physics. After working as a developer in the Berkeley robotics department he moved back to New York City in 1990, and has been living in Brooklyn since then. He has designed and built furniture, and has been developing real estate in Williamsburg for the past 30 years. He has a mind for assessing problems and creating solutions. His firm, RH Design, does commercial and residential construction and renovation projects throughout New York City.

Jessica Wertz is the owner and president of Lee Wertz Inc. She is soon to be M/WBE (Minority / Woman Owned Business Enterprise certified by the State),  and is a licensed General Contractor with the NYC Department of Buildings. She has been working with Rob for the last three years. Together, they built Russ & Daughters’ new 16,000 square foot production and retail facility in the Brooklyn Navy yard.

Pat Chirico is the founder and owner of Wrecords By Monkey and the award winning designer of vinyl inspired accessories including the Record Bracelet. He has expanded to interior design, and has been working with Rob for the past 10 years.

Rachel Herschenfeld is a dermatologist in Wellesley, MA who is currently practicing by telemedicine and providing logistical and fundraising support for the team. She is Rob's sister, and loves NYC, where she grew up.