Local Hero: Roswell Firelabs Transitions To Making Face Shields

ROSWELL, GA — When the coronavirus first began, and businesses were forced to close, William Strika didn't let that stop him and his company, Roswell Firelabs, from helping the community.

That's why Strika was nominated to be a Patch Local Hero.

The aim of Patch Local Heroes is to recognize members of the community who are going above and beyond during these trying times, and, according to not only one nominee, but three nominations, Strika fits that description perfectly.

Strika is the executive director of a non-profit makerspace/community workshop in Roswell, called Roswell Firelabs.

"Since the end of March, I have led a crew of volunteers to assemble over 4,500 protective face shields for medical practitioners and first responders, at no charge," Strika told Patch. "Community service often comes with no personal benefit and at great personal sacrifice, especially in unforeseen circumstances such as a global health crisis. Our stories are written by the actions we take to improve the welfare of all individuals during this difficult time."

Name of the person who nominated the hero: Judy Howard

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored? Going above and beyond to coordinate and create face shields for front line workers. He has been tirelessly 3D printing prepping and putting together face shields since this all started. 500 shields every few days or one night, we got 1,500 done!! This is a coordinated effort between the Firelabs and Atlanta beats Co-Vid which is a collection of several makerspaces working together to produce PPE equipment. Everyone who's lent a hand at the Firelabs are amazing but Will has been exceptional devoting practically another full time jobs worth of hours each week so that hospitals and EMS can have these face shields.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about your hero? How selfless they are. Doesn't ever complain, and he's passionate about what we're doing

Name of the person who nominated the hero: Jeremiah Smith

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored? William was instrumental in providing he dress, if not in the thousand range, of PPE for local health and first responders in and around Atlanta. Personally he helped me acquire face shields and N95 masks for my mother and her coworkers who work at Grady hospital as nurses. This gesture has made me proud to call him my friend and I am ever thankful for what he did making so many masks. I know he was printing around the clock and assembling shields and working with local makers to help streamline production. He did this with her personal time and expected no compensation. He’s my hero regardless if he is nominated and he’s a hero to those he helped.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about your hero? He is a very kind and giving man who expects nothing in return. Just loves to help others.

Name of the person who nominated the hero: Lindsey Boehmler

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored? He's been working with Atlanta Beats Covid non-stop since we closed to the public back in March. There are days when he drives all over the greater ATL area to pick up supplies or do drops of face shields to first responders in need. Other days he's pulling in volunteers or just working on his own 3D printing bands for face shields, sterilizing pieces that come in from the community and other makerspaces, assembling, packing and prepping shields for shipment. Most days he leaves anywhere between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get there to meet with people dropping items off or to set prints while he works his normal job, and he typically won't get home until after 11 p.m. There's no such thing as a day off, but he's helping to get much needed PPE into the hands of those that need it on the front lines.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about your hero? He's a do'er. Someone can have a zillion and one ideas and never execute, but he's always looking to find a real, manageable solution to whatever issues may come up and then follows through to the end.

Do you have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.