The unexpected happened. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are in intense need of life-saving equipment and protective gear. The risk is high for health workers and patients and there is not enough manufacturing capacity to cope with the shortage of equipment. This is why grassroots initiatives by those that care or have an interest in tinkering and reinventing, including engineers, scientists, designers, innovators and many others are taking this matter into their own hands. These makers are all moved by a shared goal of helping and cooperating for the common good.