Freshman Student Creates “Ear-Savers” for Frontline Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired many to give back to their communities, including Oak Forest High School freshman Joshua Slaviero. The freshman student has been staying busy and doing good by using his own Flashforge Finder 3D printer to make an item he calls “ear-savers” for frontline workers.

Slaviero says he purchased the printer with graduation money from last July and that the “graduation gift has helped a lot of people!” The idea came after Slaviero had heard District 228 and many other groups had been using 3D printers to create useful items for frontline workers such as masks and face shields.

Slaviero was specifically interested in creating the “ear-savers” as a way to take the pressure off of people’s ears from wearing masks. After securing a source file online and making a few adjustments to the file, Slaviero then made some prototypes and got in touch with a family friend who works at the New Lenox Fire District to set up a donation.

So far, Slaviero has donated 60 “ear-savers” to the New Lenox Fire District. Initially, a family member had donated funds to get Slaviero started on the project. Recently, Slaviero says he has received a donation to cover the cost of the rest of his materials so that he can continue making the “ear-savers” for frontline workers.

Slaviero’s “ear-savers” are designed to be worn behind the head and have sides to attach to the mask itself instead of ears. Slaviero has also personalized his “ear-savers” to say “Heroes.”

Before creating these “ear-savers,” Slaviero says he was designing different personalized key chains for himself and others. Additionally, he says he had even printed a new mouthpiece for his saxophone.