Nathaniel Padilla is finding it’s easy to help others during the pandemic. He connected with Open Works Baltimore, one of America’s largest nonprofit makerspaces, through Instagram. Now he’s producing mask mounts used with protective face masks.

Open Works Baltimore is coordinating a large-scale volunteer effort to help provide protective equipment to medical professionals and others who might need it during this time. Nathaniel was excited to come across this opportunity to contribute.

“I had a 3-D printer and I wanted to be able to help the local community. I was amazed at how many people signed up,” Nathaniel said.

Nathaniel knows he has a role in the important job of ensuring people’s safety. He says it’s wonderful to feel he’s helping meet a need.

“I have printed 85 mask mounts so far and I will continue until they no longer need them,” said Nathaniel.

He hopes he can encourage more students and members of the FOP community to get involved and find a way to serve others as the country navigates the COVID-19 crisis.

“If you see something and it seems interesting, go for it,” Nathaniel said. “There are lots of things that don’t require specialty equipment or money, only your time.”