East End sailmaker and brewery in PPE drive

Two Greenport businesses have teamed up to make and donate thousands of protective face shields to hospitals and nursing homes.

William J. Mills & Co., a 140-year-old sailmaker and canvas manufacturer, has joined with Greenport Harbor Brewery to mobilize volunteers and raise money through a GoFundMe campaign to make several thousand face shields and other personal protective equipment.

The team has already delivered hundreds of face shields to first responders on the North Fork and to Eastern Long Island Hospital and San Simeon Nursing home.

The collaboration plans on also making protective gowns and face masks to be used by healthcare workers, first responders and the general public.

The Greenport Village Business Improvement District, Southold Schools Robotics Club and Reflective Image Manufacturing are also part of the effort.