Indianapolis-area businesses pivot to make, transport goods to fight COVID-19

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Hoosier business owners are stepping up to help front-line workers.

As soon as the coronavirus pandemic hit, Rico Elmore snapped into action to help. The founder and chief executive officer of Fatheadz Eyewear said, “We’re trying to help out where we can. We’re trying to keep everybody busy here.”

His Indianapolis-based business is now making protective eyewear for workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. We’re talking five items including safety glasses and goggles. All of it is anti-fog.

“The people on the front lines can see what they’re doing a lot better without the fog. Then we’re doing the slash guards, too … the shields,” Elmore said.

They’re already filling orders for thousands of items for Indiana and other states.

“We’re touching that many people’s lives. We’re helping them with their job and making their job just a little bit easier and a little bit safer,” Elmore said.

Indianapolis-based Williams Distributing also stepped up to help. The chemical distribution company now handles logistics, fulfillment and delivery of thousands of personal protective equipment items to Indiana and surrounding states.

“Supplying them with hand sanitizer, gloves, N95 masks, gowns, show covers, any type of PPE (personal protective equipment) they need to keep themselves safe and their patients and families safe,” said Andre Williams, the co-owner of Williams Distribution.

On Tuesday, Williams Distribution shipped 5,000 pairs of gloves to the National Guard.

“To be able to put all those things together and be able to help the community feels absolutely wonderful,” said Marshall Williams, the other co-owner.

Meanwhile, east of Indianapolis in Pittsboro, auto parts maker Fleece Performance Engineering has jumped in to fight the coronavirus. They’re making lightweight, thin, disposable face shields and masks. Each one takes about 30-40 seconds to make. They’ve made about 75,000 so far and can make far more than 100,000 face shields a week.

“We saw the need. My wife, my sister, my sister in-law are all nurses in the health care field, and we wanted to help in any way we possibly can,” said Brayden Fleece, the president and owner of Fleece Performance Engineering.

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