Charles Randolph, 13, 3D-Prints Masks to Donate During Coronavirus Pandemic

A 13-year-old boy from Virginia is trying to do his part during the Coronavirus outbreak by making face masks at home using a 3D printer.

Charles Randolph of Falls Church, Virginia, follows news reports about the growing threats of the COVID-19 pandemic or the Coronavirus. Concerned over the dangers that the virus poses on older people and those with existing ailments, he decided to do something about it.

Many people around the world are trying to do their part in curbing the spread of the Coronavirus.

USING HIS 3D PRINTER FOR GOOD

Speaking to local station WJLA, he decided to create masks using his 3D printer, inspired by his great-uncle who is currently vulnerable to the disease because he needs a heart transplant. Realizing there are many others like him, he made masks for them.

As for how exactly he was able to do that, Charles revealed the step-by-step process that allows him to be of help to others.

"You use a slicer which takes the product that you got off [the website] Thingiverse, and it turns it into code that the 3D printer can read."

HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE DURING THE PANDEMIC

Ultimately, it takes about 90 minutes to create a mask and costs about a dollar to make. Now, he's producing more masks with the free time he has because of self-quarantine, and is looking for places where he can donate them.

While the masks are not sufficient enough to be given to doctors and nurses that are treating COVID-19 patients, he says it could help people like his uncle and try to prevent them from being infected by the disease.

FEELING GOOD ABOUT HELPING

Prior to making masks, the 13-year-old would only make toys with the 3D printer. He would take enrichment classes on how to properly use the equipment, and it has paid off since, especially now that he's helping others with it.

"This is the first real, useful thing that I've made. I feel pretty good. I'm pretty quiet, chill. Yeah, I feel pretty good about this."

KINDNESS AND EMPATHY DURING STRUGGLE

Many people around the world are trying to do their part in curbing the spread of the Coronavirus, and one important value that people such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been reiterating, is kindness.

As the entire world seems to have come to a complete stop, the royal couple urged their fans to remain kind through the uncertain circumstances. To them, empathy and kindness are two important values that people should always exhibit.

Indeed, with people like Charles Randolph as examples, empathy and kindness could definitely go along way during this pandemic.