ToyPrints hoped to quadruple the number of children it reached in its in-person 3D printing programs this year. Then a global pandemic struck.
The Austin nonprofit group, founded at the beginning of last year, had to put the brakes on in-person camps and programs. In response to Covid-19, it’s developed virtual programming and online materials so children still can learn about 3D printing and design.
How the organization reaches children looks differently now, but the changes are benefiting essential workers in Austin — doctors, nurses, firefighters, grocery workers, delivery drivers, chefs, waiters and more.
“We started at the beginning of last year developing curriculum and programming that we could bring to kids, primarily targeting underrepresented kids in Austin,” said Megan Mills, executive director of community engagement and a board member for the organization. “Last year, we served 250 youths in the Austin area. We wanted to quadruple that number of students this year. In February and March, it became very apparent that we would not be able to do this work in person.”
ToyPrints still wanted to do the work.
One-on-one interaction might not be possible right now, Mills said, but educational opportunities for STEM don’t have to stop because of Covid-19.
“Our new virtual programming is centered around learning about 3D printing, 3D printing applications during the pandemic and, ultimately, designing a thank-you gift to be 3D-printed and delivered, along with 3D-printed mask strap extenders, to an essential workers group in the Austin area,” the group says on its website. “When you hear ‘superhero,’ you might think about Wonder Woman, Superman or Black Panther. But, today there are tons of people putting their lives at risk so you can stay safe and live as much as normal life as possible, not only doctors, nurses, and firefighters, but also grocery workers, delivery drivers, construction workers, chefs, waiters, etc. They are today’s superheroes — Austin’s essential workers.”
ToyPrints still is making it possible for children and teenagers to learn about 3D printing, practice brainstorming and designing and produce a thank-you gift the organization will deliver to essential workers. ToyPrints also is printing mask strap extenders.
The group needs help. It needs volunteers to help transform drawings and design them into 3D print files. It needs people willing to use their 3D printers to help print participants’ projects. It also needs money.
“We can print 50+ toys for $10, the cost of filament,” Mills said. “We want to upgrade our printers so we can print larger batches — $250 for a printer. Everything we are doing is using reserve funds from our fundraising efforts earlier this year and last year.”
ToyPrints is raising money through a GoFundMe campaign.
It is also looking for suggestions about places to “reach as many kids as we can and more introductions to groups/orgs to allow us to carry on (our) mission,” Mills said, as well as companies and workplaces that might want to receive thank-you gifts and mask strap extenders.
The first place to receive gifts from the program was Cedar Park Regional Hospitals.
At Settlement Home for Children, which serves children who have experienced severe emotional trauma, abuse and neglect, ToyPrints led a Zoom session showcasing a 3D printer and how the technology works.
“Instead of drawing something for themselves, we talked them through how Covid-19 has impacted workers in Austin,” Mills said.
The group is trying to instill in children an idea of what a superhero really is, Mills said — including “the superheroes in themselves.”
