ONEONTA, N.Y. -

SUNY Oneonta's Theater Department has switched out their space for set design to create thousands of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“You don’t expect that it’s the theater people that will be saving our lives with PPE, but making things is what they do," says Doug Reilly, AJ Read Discovery Center Director. 

Reid joined Theater Department Technical Director Scott Segar and Assistance Technical Director Matthew Grenier after coordinating their own separate efforts to help fight the PPE shortage in May.

“We each kind of bumped into each other looking for resources and volunteers," said Segar. 

They then decided to create an organized effort to produce over 1,000 face shield parts, medical gowns, and scrub caps using some of the theater department's equipment.

Over 30 staff members, students, and community members have helped with the effort. The group has been meeting up to twice a week with 6-8 volunteers at a time. 

"It's just been a nice way to feel like you're doing something to help," said Segar. "Our jobs have been affected, so it's been nice to feel useful."

Reilly says the project has been funded through the school, PPE grants, and other donations. The PPE is distributed to New York City, around the state, and around the country. 

“There’s still a lot of need and although places like New York City are doing better than they were -- other places are entering that really critical time where they really need things as well," said Reilly. 

Reilly says the demand is shifting to other coronavirus hotspots appearing in other parts of the country. 

SUNY Oneonta Theater Department is planning to shift production and create over 2,000 cloth masks for the upcoming fall semester. 

You can go to this link to volunteer or donate supplies.