10 Influential Companies Giving Back to Their Communities During COVID-19
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There’s no denying that the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has effectively brought the world to its knees. Global healthcare systems are getting stretched to breaking point, and the economy in most nations is also getting affected.
As you can imagine, many people are finding themselves without work due to their employers getting closed in mandatory lockdown situations. The sad truth is, those people aren’t always receiving the support they need to survive financially during this period.
Of course, there are also other vulnerable people in the community that need help. In the United States, 1.1 million people got diagnosed with COVID-19. And sadly, almost 65,000 people have lost their lives to the virus, according to the CDC.
One positive thing to note about the COVID-19 crisis is that times like these bring communities together to help one another. That also includes companies of all sizes. Here’s an example of how 10 businesses are helping communities – both local and beyond borders:
1. Death Wish Coffee
In New York, the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in America, one growing firm wants to help people in their neighborhood of Saratoga Springs affected by service industry lay-offs. The Death Wish Coffee Company started out as a coffee shop and is now also a coffee producer.
They’ve launched an initiative called “Broke, not Busted” in collaboration with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. It’s raising $75,000 from the sales of trendy charity T-shirts, the proceeds of which will go to help those who need support right now.
2. Everlane
Everlane is a California-based clothing retailer that sells both online and in a selection of stores across the country. They work with a range of ethical global clothing producers and aim to be fully transparent about the trust cost of the items they sell.
The proceeds of all items sold from the company’s “100% Human” collection go directly to Feeding America’s Coronavirus Response Fund. It’s a national initiative that both supports people facing hunger and the food banks that help them.
3. Etsy
Etsy is an online selling platform that enables millions of independent vendors to sell their handmade, craft, and vintage items. Founded 15 years ago, the Etsy website offers independent sellers a simple way to sell their wares to consumers across the globe.
The company behind the Etsy website has launched a “Stand with Small” initiative to help support their sellers by waiving advertising fees and making payment schedules more flexible to ease the financial burden on micro-entrepreneurs.
4. Nordstrom
The luxury department store chain Nordstrom is a familiar sight in many parts of the United States. They also have operations in Canada and Puerto Rico. Nordstrom is helping both their employees and their local communities in many ways.
Furloughed employees were given three weeks of full pay in April and are also receiving additional benefits. They’ve leveraged their supply chain to donate more than 100,000 masks across the USA, and are supporting various charities such as the Seattle Foundation.
5. Universal Standard
Universal Standard is another clothing brand that sells both online and in retail stores (although the latter are currently closed due to COVID-19). They became the first clothing retailer to offer all products in their collections in sizes 00 through to size 40.
The company is offering people in the medical community a free garment from their Foundation collection as a thank-you for their continued hard work and support. Eligible people need only email the firm a copy of their medical credentials to receive their clothing.
6. M. Gemi
Luxury shoe brand M. Gemi sells its Italian-made, handcraft footwear both online and in retail stores. A relatively young brand, M. Gemi sells luxury footwear for men and women in a variety of different styles and colors.
The company’s co-founder, Maria Gangemi, announced that it will be donating 10% of all purchases to Direct Relief, an organization that rushes much-needed medical supplies to hospitals both in the United States and across the globe.
7. Google
Google is a name synonymous with Internet searching and technology in general. They are a global giant and despite their net worth, donate millions of dollars each year to charitable causes across the United States and beyond.
The search giant created a COVID-19 fund that allows all workers in the USA and beyond to take paid sick leave if they have COVID-19 symptoms and can’t travel to work due to that. They’ve also pledged $800+ million to support small businesses and crisis response.
8. Shine Distillery & Grill
In Portland, OR, Shine Distillery & Grill are known for their Pacific Northwest cuisine and hand-crafted spirits that they produce in-house. Located in the historic Williams district of Portland, the relatively new business is already making its name known throughout the USA.
Image Source: soumen82hazra (Pixabay).
The distillery can’t use the first batch of alcohol it produces but it’s perfectly fine for hand sanitization purposes. As such, they started making hand sanitizers and gave it away to their local community to help combat COVID-19.
9. Keen Footwear
Keen Footwear is another Portland-based brand. Founded in 2003, the company sells footwear across North America and distributes its products worldwide via its online store. The firm is also known for its charitable work, and that includes the COVID-19 crisis.
They recently converted one of its factories to produce 100,000 face masks for essential workers. Plus, the company also gifted 100,000 pairs of shoes to people that need them most.
10. Love Your Melon
Love Your Melon is a Minnesota-based hat brand founded by two university friends that wanted to create a business that had a meaningful and positive social impact. Since 2012, they’ve raised more than $7.1 million for the fight against pediatric cancer.The brand’s response to the COVID-19 crisis is to make 50,000 face masks for donation to children’s hospitals and care facilities across the United States.