Industry News

It’s been a tough few weeks for everyone. At times, it can feel like the world is unraveling. Whether you’re dealing with sickness, social distancing, working from home for the first time, and/or trying to homeschool kids, it isn’t easy. We all want to get back to normal.

We don’t know when that will be, and what normal will look like, but we wanted to point out a few of the organizations, companies, and brands (big and small) that are chipping in to help. While the government has been struggling to administer tests and get enough supplies for health care workers, these organizations have directly helped on the front lines, donated proceeds and supplies, or helped prioritize especially vulnerable customers.

Nonprofits on the Frontlines

If you’d like to donate directly to the charities helping Covid-19 relief, here are a few you might consider.

• Feeding America has a Covid-19 Response Fund that is helping to ensure food banks across the country can feed those in need right now, including the children who rely on school meals to eat.
• Doctors Without Borders is sending aid to the countries hit hardest by Covid-19 and strengthening the infection controls in its already established programs, as well as maintaining existing help in the 70-plus countries it regularly assists.
• The World Health Organization is coordinating efforts across the world to respond to existing cases, and prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading.
• Oxfam America is organizing efforts to increase delivery of clean water and sanitary supplies to refugees and those living in higher-risk environments.
• The Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donations if you’re in a position to do so.
• World Central Kitchen is delivering chef-prepared meals to those in need.

Also be sure to look at local food banks as well as neighborhood Facebook pages that are organizing mask-making and care package efforts.

Grocery Stores That Are Helping Seniors

Seniors and immunocompromised citizens have been put in a tough position: brave the masses of people sometimes literally fighting at grocery stores and risk catching something, or wait at home as they run out of supplies. In response, stores across the country are offering special shopping hours for seniors and those with underlying health issues that don’t want to be out with hoards of people during this health crisis. You can find an exhaustive list here.

• Trader Joe’s is opening its doors to seniors every day from 9 am to 10 am.
• Giant Food is reserving an hour every morning from 6 am to 7 am.
• Stop & Shop is opening earlier, giving customers 60 and over the opportunity to shop every day from 6 am to 7:30 am.
• Costco is offering an hour every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 am to 9 am to member 60 years and older.
• Walgreens senior hour is Tuesdays from 8 am to 9 am.
• Walmart is offering a shopping hour from 6 am to 7 am every Tuesday for customers 60 and up.
• Target’s first open hour on Wednesdays is reserved for the elderly and those with underlying health concerns.

Companies Donating Masks and Supplies

Health care workers on the front lines have been desperately searching for masks amid a shortage. Brands are answering the call by either producing masks themselves or donating their stockpiles. Others, including a YouTuber, are putting together care packages, or donating sale profits directly to charity. Here’s a few we’ve seen.

• GE Appliances donated 2,500 N95 masks to the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky, where the company is based. The company is also donating appliances to healthcare workers, firefighters, paramedics, and police officers fighting Covid-19.
• Helmet brand Thousand is giving away free bike helmets to couriers. Email [email protected] if you qualify.
• Gantri, a 3D-printed lamp company, has been using its factory to produce 3D-printed visor frames for health workers.
• Spry Therapeutics donated 10,000 of its virus-blocking medical pillows to hospitals across the US.
• Apple donated 10 million face masks to health care facilities.
• AstraZeneca said it will donate 9 million face masks.

To read the full WIRED article, click here.