Like a swarm
April 30th, 2020
It takes so many moving parts to make this machine go. We are collectively hoping to create a commodity chain in a difficult time when other ones at larger suppliers have broken down. So why us? What do we have? Every day we check in to make sure that we are still the right ones for the job. The results so far have always come out the same: the need is high and we have people power.
In trying to figure out how to relate how all this works, there are many ways to go about it. We could look at the life cycle of a single product. We could draw a web of how everyone is connected.
For now, I thought I'd start just with what people did yesterday.
As I began to write it out, it felt amazing and overwhelming. We are like a swarm.
Emily called hospitals who need PAPRs. Eda called hospitals who need face shields. Hannah and Michael packaged assembly kits. Kathleen and Josh die-cut NYU style face shields and flappers. Delma, Luis, Delma, and Elizabeth used a flash cutter and a drag knife to cut Budmen shields and polyurethane cuffs. Yuki brought materials to Sequoia Hospital, El Camino, and Valley Medical. Dan mailed supplies to Seattle, San Diego, Napa, and Modesto. George, Jessie, Margaret, James, Stefanie, Patrick, Katherina, Michael, Sean, and JD contributed funds to keep us going. Chris picked up vinyl and polycarbonate from Russ at TAP to bring to Neal at Gasket. Lily talked with other doctors to reveal a pressing need: gowns. Sam talked with Ben to begin making gowns. Elizabeth, Daria, Alicia, Natalie, Marella, Silver, Julia, Skyler, and Alexis all sealed cuffs. Andrew, Amanda, and Laura sealed them to send off. Sal made boxes for the assembly line. Imani laser-cut NYU shields. Two Erins, Ameeta, Christine, Stacy, Scott, Ismael, Tania, Tina, and Jeanne all coordinated with their hospitals about needs. Ilyse, Mateo, Robert, and Sarah fed the assembly line. Elisa and Peter researched materials for PAPR units. Nikhin and Vanessa looked at setting up operations in North Carolina. Loren in Washington. Paul in Minnesota. Gaia designed new cuffs. Alice spread the word. Brian prepped files for cutting intubation boxes. Nate edited. Melanie filmed.
It takes us all.
And we're a pretty good swarm.
