A New Jersey theater thought that it would be using its new 3D printers to make props for plays and musicals – but instead, it is using them to help in the fight against COVID-19.

The effort has been organized by Centenary Stage Company in Hackettstown – a professional theater on the campus of Centenary University. General manager Christopher Young has the printers in his home and is making headbands, which are attached to plastic face shields to be donated to health care workers.

Centenary Stage Company became involved in the effort because of Young’s brother Jonathan who is a 3D environment senior artist and production designer with Denville-based WisEngineering – which is organizing the printing effort.

“To be able to turn that skill and my background to help people feels really great,” says Jonathan Young.

The sanitized shields are boxed and delivered to medical facilities in New Jersey and other states. About 400 shields have been made so far.

Other businesses with 3D printing capability who are participating in the effort are UTRS, NextGen Imaging and Responder Corp.