Companies give back to healthcare workers

Hannah Mirsky
April 4, 2020

Healthcare workers and first responders across the nation have been on the front lines working under conditions that hospitals were not prepared for. The shortages of face masks and gloves put their health and their families health at risk, since the virus can be brought back home. Most companies had to close their doors and are not able to carry out business as usual. Instead, the companies are showing their appreciation for their hard work and bravery by giving back.

From now until Sunday, May 3, Starbucks will be giving away free brewed coffees to first responders who work alongside patients fighting coronavirus.

The Starbucks Foundation is also donating $500,000 dollars to two organizations, Direct Relief and Operation Gratitude. Direct Relief is an organization that delivers personal protective equipment and medical supplies. Operation Gratitude will deliver 50,000 packages and hand written letters to first responders and healthcare workers.

The shoe company, Crocs, is also working on a new initiative called “sharing a free pair for healthcare.”

 

“I think it is great,” Nursing Assistant at Kessler Institute Ryan Lopez said. “You wear your Crocs at work and then you can sanitize them, bleach them down, you can leave them in your locker, or you could even leave them in your car and not even bring it to your house.”

Starting this April, Ford Motors and General Electric Healthcare are planning to use their supplies to make ventilators since hospitals are running low. The plan is to produce 1,500 by the end of April and about 50,000 within the next 100 days.

https://twitter.com/Ford/status/1244758930791763968

The craft company, Joann’s is encouraging people at home to help make face masks to donate to local hospitals by issuing face masks kits. The kits contain fabric, elastic and other necessary materials. When masks are done, people can bring them back to Joann’s and they will donate them.

“We are having many people come into the hospital at once and everyone is being tested for COVID-19, it is extremely stressful,” Lopez said. “Knowing that companies are doing what they can to help is great.”