Still, the disease is taking a toll—unemployment is rising, people are struggling to make rent and buy food, and employees working vital jobs are being overworked and overexposed to the virus. Fortunately, the same sense of community that leads us all to shut ourselves inside has led businesses to give back where they can. Here’s some examples of ways brands in the Natural Products Industry are helping out.
If your brand is giving back to the community, please email the details to juliapeterman@wfcinc.com to be added to this roundup.
Re:THINK Ice Creamis donating over 100,000 single-serve ice cream cups to healthcare workers in over 150 hospitals in California and Oregon. The donations are intended to bring a bit of happiness to the healthcare workers who have been risking their lives on the frontline. As of the end of May, the company has already donated and delivered over 60,000 cups to healthcare workers. George Haymaker III, Founder of Re:THINK, said: “Being a Napa Valley-based brand, we knew we wanted to start giving back in our own backyard once this crisis hit, but we had no idea how much these healthcare workers would appreciate it. It’s due to the heartwarming response I’ve received from personally delivering these donations that we’ve decided to bring our donations to Southern California and Oregon as well. Re:THINK Ice Cream was founded during my recovery from addiction. Through this process I made a promise to give back and I'm working to do everything I can to do just that. It's great to know that even during the current uncertain times, these healthcare workers who are profusely working day in and out, can enjoy an ice cream that is not only delicious but actually good for you.”
World Organic Corp.and its owners, the Licata family, have donated $11,000 worth of KN95 and 3-ply disposable face masks to the American Red Cross. The company announced in a press release that Kurt Burton, Regional Philanthropy Officer for the Red Cross, was thrilled to receive the protective equipment—a total of nearly 7,000 masks, all of which came with all the FDA approvals—for use by their essential workers, volunteers, and families in need. Read morehere.
Caulipoweris donating $1 million over three years to the American Heart Association's food security and education programs. Funds made immediately available will provide over 100,000 meals to 4,500 high-risk families in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Birmingham over the course of June and July. The company noted that even before the crisis, in Los Angeles County alone 30% of low-income households did not know where their next meal was coming from; COVID-19 has heightened the problem. Gail Becker, Founder and CEO of Caulipower, said: "It's already a tragedy that thousands of families depend on free school meals, but with schools closed that tragedy is a crisis and more children are at risk. We're thrilled that Caulipower can help put fresh vegetables on the tables of 4,500 families just when they need it most. Help us help more families by donating: Text CAULI to 41444."
Gluten Intolerance Group has launched Giving Back to Our Gluten-Free Heroes, a campaign to support frontline workers required to be on a gluten-free diet. Freinds and family of the gluten-free community can nominate gluten intolerant essential workers to receive a care package of certified gluten-free food. GIG isaccepting nominationsthrough May 31. Cynthia Kupper, CEO of GIG, said: "We want to recognize the essential workers who are risking their own health and time with family so that the rest of us can stay home and be safe. We have partnered with our gluten-free GFCO certified food manufacturers to send out care packages that contain a variety of gluten-free foods to nourish the body and the spirit for these essential workers and to say thank you for being the heroes they are." More than 75 nominations have already been submitted, and care packages have been sent to doctors, nurses, physicians' assistants, physical therapists, school administrators, maintenance staff, and others.
GOOD PLANeTwill work with SPINS and Seattle pizza chain Pagliacci to donate up to 800 pizzas to grocery workers. This donation will be offered to select retailers as part of the company's charitable giving. David Israel, CEO of GOOD PLANeT Foods, said: "We believe it's our responsibility to pitch in where we can, whether that's through a donation to a food bank, by hosting a pop-up event to lift the spirits of the local community, or by offering our gratitude to grocery workers with the gift of free pizza. It's our hope that we're able to use our resources to help pull America through during this time and beyond." This is not the brand's first charitable foray—the company has donated to Food Lifeline, Feeding America, Food Finders, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, Tahoma School District, and Rainier Valley Food Bank. "We're grateful to the many partners who have come alongside us in our giving efforts this year, most recent of which are SPINS and Pagliacci," Israel said.
Makers Nutritionhas announced its third annual donation to LeSEA Global Feed The Hungry. LeSEA distributes food and relief to those in need, both in the U.S. and to 26 countries around the world. Steve Finnegan, EVP of Makers Nutrition, said: "In the face of this pandemic, Makers Nutrition is prouder than ever to provide services on which so many people depend. By donating over $100,000 worth of high-quality flavored protein supplementation to LeSEA Global Feed The Hungry, we know our product is in the right hands and will be directly delivered to those in need."
Icelandic Provisionsis partnering with Frontline Foods to help the organization feed frontline workers battling the pandemic. Beginning this week and launching on social media Tuesday, May 19, Icelandic Provisions will match donations made by their community up to $10,000. Icelandic Provisions is shifting their social media strategy to focus on promoting the partnership to drive awareness to Frontline Foods and the local restaurants they supports. Donations can be madehere.100% of donations go directly to local restaurants, and $50 can feed a team of 3-5 frontline workers.
Gaia Herbsis using its alcohol-based operations to manufacture CDC-approved hand sanitizer, which will be donated to local community first responders including healthcare workers, farmworkers, government officials, and other
essential employees. The first batch of donations will comprise a total of 217 one-gallon bottles and 3,000 two-ounce bottles. Donations were recently made to Transylvania County Public Safety, SAFE, Inc. of Transylvania County, Sharing House Transylvania Christian Ministry, Safelight Hendersonville, and Pardee Hospital Hendersonville; additional donations will be made over the next few weeks to other organizations. Gaia will also be producing a lemon herbal hand sanitizer to sell, which is expected to be available online in July. "We began seeing inflated prices as we worked to source hand sanitizer for our own employees and recognized that we were uniquely suited to help address this need—not just for our own team, but for other businesses and community members as well," said Angela McElwee, President and CEO of Gaia. "As a Certified B Corporation, Gaia Herbs is committed to using business as a force for good. This hand sanitizer donation represented an additional way to use our capabilities to make a positive impact and help to protect the health of our local community. Gaia Herbs has a long history of working with food-grade alcohol as part of our herbal extraction process, so when the critical need for and shortage of hand sanitizer became clear, it was an easy decision to create a product that meets all CDC requirements. We are donating our entire first production run to help protect those who are helping others, as we appreciate and recognize their hard work and dedication to selflessly serving our community.”Greenjoyhas partnered with nearly a dozen organizations to bring food to those in need, committing to a donation of over $275,000 worth of healthy food products through non-profits and food banks. $175,000 worth of its products have gone to Atlanta Public Schools, and $100,000 worth of its products have been donated to frontline doctors nurses and staff. Thousands of dollars of healthy snacks have also been donated to a variety of partners, including #FoundersGive, City Harvest, Fort Mitchel Community Food Bank, and The Sparrow's Nest. Jenny Cawthon, Founder, explained: "As a mother, I saw an immediate need to send healthy food to children that were no longer getting school lunches. For many children, their school meals are the only food they get and with school closed, they are at risk of going all day without a meal. If we can include nourishing, healthy snacks, we can ensure these children are getting some quality nutrition."
Mary's Gone Crackershas donated over 100 cases of crackers to the Reno, Nevada community and frontline COVID-19 workers nationwide, including City Ministries in Nevada, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California, Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. City Ministries works with several charitable organizations, including Paiute Tribe Community on Pyramid Lake, Domestic Violence Center, Reno Housing Authority, and more. Mary's Gone Crackers Chairman Tetsuya Fujisaki said: "Our mission is to give back to our local community and COVID-19 frontliners who have put themselves at great risk to protect us all. We hope our donations can provide hope and fuel as we all endure challenging times."
Cascade Organic Flourhas donated another 21 tons of organic whole wheat flour to2nd Harvestto help those in need in eastern and central Washington. This is Cascade's second donation. 2nd Harvest plans to distribute these additional 21 tons of the flour to various food banks and thousands of families. Justin Brown, Owner and CEO of Cascade, said: "Cascade Organic Flour is pleased to be able to donate another truckload of our flour to 2nd Harvest, as we know the demands on food banks are continuing to increase during these challenging times, and we want to make a significant and sustained effort to respond to help those in need."
vitafusionandL'il Crittershave donated 36,000 bottles of gummy vitamins toFeed the Children, as well as to schools and other local organizations providing free meals, resources, and support. The companies are focusing on hard-hit areas such as New York, New Jersey, Washington, and more to help address children's needs.
Califia Farmshas pledged to provide one million servings of beverages to frontline healthcare workers and other communities in need through the pandemic. The pledge will extend through December 2020. Califia has already provided nearly 350,000 servings since March 9, 2020, by partnering withFeed the Frontlines NYC, which delivers hot, individually packaged meals to 35 hospitals. Greg Steltenpohl, CEO and Founder of Califia Farms, said in the release: "Califia Farms is privileged to be part of an industry that can help alleviate even a small amount of the stress created by this pandemic by providing great-tasting, nutritious products. We're grateful to Feed the Frontlines NYC and other groups who quickly activated their network to help sustain our healthcare heroes and other vulnerable populations. By standing together as a community, we will emerge from this moment stronger and more resilient."
Veggies Made Greathas launched the Healthcare Heroes program. Through the month of May,VegHead community memberscan nominate a healthcare worker for a chance to win free Veggies Made Great products; at the end of May, 20 random entries will be selected as winners. The company is already donating products to healthcare workers and hospitals in New Jersey.
ADMis donating $800,000 in donations to organizations focused on helping communities in need through food assistance and local support for hospitals and first respondors. This is in addition to the more than $1m already committed to COVID-19 relief efforts. Juan Luciano, Chairman and CEO, said: "These are unprecedented times, and ADM is committed to doing our part to help address the tremendous need around the world right now. We are proud to take part in Giving Tuesday's efforts to unite companies, individuals, and communities around the world to tackle the great challenges brought on by the global fight against COVID-19."
Mayorga Organicsis donating 70,000 pounds of food to the local community in Miami, Florida, the location of its new organic specialty coffee facility. The 40,000 pounds of long grain white rice and 30,000 pounds of black beans will be delivered to Feeding South Florida to create an estimated 54,000 meals for residents in South Florida. Martin Mayorga, Founder and President of Mayorga Organics, said: "Over the last few weeks, national grocery clients have asked for our assistance sourcing conventional rice and beans to keep shelves full across the country. As we helped to source millions of pounds of food, we also saw that demand was skyrocketing at foodbanks. It just made sense that we would use this as an opportunity to help those in need. we've been blessed with support from so many as we've grown Mayorga so it just makes sense to support the communities that have helped us along the way."
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheeseis supporting the California Association of Food Banks through a Buy a Wedge/Give a Wedge program. All varieties are included in the program. Diana Giacomini Hagan, Co-Owner/CFO, said: "The more cheese we sell, the more we need to make, and thus, the more we can donate. Now that's a win-win-win. In a crisis you don't just focus on profit and loss. You put your energy into keeping your community healthy and that's our mission. Right now we hope our customers will join us in supporting our Bay Area community."
HempFusionandVerdant Oasishave partnered up to donate 1,000 bottles of HempFusion’s Stress CBD Capsules formulated with ashwagandha to frontline workers in New York City. Jason Mitchell, N.D., Co-CEO of HempFusion, explained: “This idea was originally inspired by the CEO of Verdant Oasis, Beata Jedrzewska, by asking the question ‘what more can we do to support those that so selflessly give themselves to help all of us?’ From there, the collaboration between HempFusion and Verdant Oasis began with Carl Germano, C.N.S., C.D.N., VP of Verdant Oasis, Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham, and the HempFusion team. Our goal was simple: Provide free nutritional products to the selfless frontline medical workers in New York City.” Frontline medical workers and first responders can get their free HempFusion product while supplies last by showing their employment ID atWillner Chemist, 100 Park Ave., New York, NY 10017, from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Friday, and from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays.
Kate Farmshas donated plant-based meal replacement shakes to Native American communities throughout the Navajo Nation. The donation includes 2,352 meals, which will be distributed through the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. The company notes that up to 40% of the families in some rural tribal communities were experiencing food and water insecurity pre-pandemic. John Hommeyer, CEO, said: "We commend organizations like the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health for proactively serving Native American elders and their families. We are donating our formulas to partners who can deliver nourishment directly, quickly, and to the most at-risk. We hope other companies like ours step up likewise to support Native Americans in underserved and frequently ignored communities." (Does the company sound familiar? Kate Farms also donated to Meals on Wheels West. Details below.)
Rumiano Cheese Companyhas moved up the release date for 3 new Redwood Coast cheeses to help support frontline healthcare workers in California. From now through the end of May, $1 from each package sold of Rumiano's Redwood Coast line of cheeses will benefit the UCSF COVID-19 Response Fund and other non-profit organizations. The flavors include Wild Arabian Nights, Borderline Blaze, and Tuscan Temptress. Joe Baird, CEO, said: "This product release could have been delayed due to the pandemic, but instead we decided to move up the release so that we could make an impact on our community during a time of need. We are grateful for the frontline healthcare workers who are fighting the battle against COVID-19 and serving our community during the country's most challenging times. We continue to look for ways we can help, and this is the first step."
HumanNhas launched We Are All HumanN, donating $50,000 worth of SuperBeets and Neo40 products to healthcare and essential workers across the country, including the truckers who have been helping deliver goods throughout the pandemic. The supplements are being donated to help support overall energy levels. Healthcare workers cango hereto request products for their teams. AnnMarie and Joel Kocher, HumanN's President and CEO, said: "At HumanN, we believe we exist to help human beings do great things, and the greatest thing we can do right now is help those who are helping others. From the healthcare workers on the frontlines being exposed to this terrible virus daily to those on our own manufacturing line leaving their houses each day to keep our customers supplied with their orders, and to the truck drivers who are keeping America running during this pandemic, we thank and salute you."
Best Formulationshas retooled their machinery to create and manufacture up to 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizer—an estimated $350,000 worth—to donate to those in need in the Los Angeles community. The initiative is known as Project WAWU (We Are With You), and it will bring the hand sanitizer to county hospitals, first responders, fire departments, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and senior living places. Eugene Ung, CEO, said: "We heard the call from Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti and other government officials who reached out to local businesses desperate for essential items like masks and hand sanitizers and decided we needed to do something." This project—since hand sanitizer is not part of the company's core business—also resulted in Best Formulations providing jobs to recently displaced workers.
Asheville Hemp Projectis donating 50% of all sales from its new product line to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. The products include Pre-Rolls, hemp extract, Lip Balm, and Gum. Leslie Hoffman, co-founder of AHP, said: “We are very excited about our new product offerings that are coming onto the market at this time. We are also very concerned about the fate of our community during the pandemic. Much of the economy of the greater Asheville area relies on the hospitality sector, and with all non-essential businesses closed, most restaurant workers are staying home with no idea of when, or if, they will have their jobs again. For that reason, we are contributing 50% of every purchase to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund.”
Ashland diverted some of their plant capacity to manufacture and package 16,500 gallons of hand sanitizer, which was shared with Ashland production facilities across the U.S. and donated to many hospitals, first responders, health care facilities, and more. A company statement says: "We live the Ashland Way by respecting, protecting, and advancing the people we work with, companies we serve, shareholders who invest in our future, communities we're a part of, and planet we share."
Pacha Soap Companyis donating a bar of soap to a U.S. community in need for every bar of soap purchased on their website. A statement from the company calls this "a domestic extension of what they've been doing in other countries since their founding." They are also offering #WeGotYou self-care kits that buyers can sponsor and send to a friend or family member working on the front lines: Each kit comes with soaps, soaks, and lotions, and is delivered directly to the recipient's door. The company is also adapting their production facility to make hand sanitizer for hospitals, nursing homes, and first responders. Pacha Co-Founder Andrew Vrbas said: "It's pretty cool to see Nebraska businesses and people come together to solve a problem. It's what we're good at in the Midwest."
No Evil Foodshas donated over 400 pounds of product since March to organizations in their communities in North Carolina and California. Over the past three months, through the company's ongoing partnership with Bounty & Soul, they have donated over 2,780 pounds of plant-based meat, equivalent to 15,000 meals. Sadrah Schadel, Founder, said: "I was raised with the mindset that no matter what I have or don't have, I will always have more than someone else and I can always find something to give to others. That value has also been instilled into the backbone of No Evil Foods. Even as a small emerging brand, we are still in the position to give back. Giving can be so much more than a financial transaction. It's important that we as a society look at giving in multiple ways, not just monetary donations. Giving back is an essential part of our brand as a whole. COVID-19 has stopped us from doing our normal face-to-face community outreach and engagement, but it can't stop us from giving back to our community in other ways."
Naturepedicis pivoting a portion of its factory from organic mattresses and bedding to organic cotton face masks, designed to be durable and machine washable. The face masks are produced and sold at costs, and are not for profit. The company is making donations to various facilities. Naturepedic's Founder and Technical Director Barry A. Cik said: "We introduced several face mask prototype designs over a month ago, completed our upgraded retooling in the last couple of weeks, perfected our prototype organic face masks, and are now on target to ramp up to producing 5,000 masks a day for the general public."
Medical Care Innovations (MCI), maker of EndoMune Advanced probiotic and prebiotic supplements, will donate $2 for each bottle of product sold on theendomune.comwebsite to Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund. Donations will continue as long as the fund is active. Lawrence Hoberman, M.D., Founder of MCI and creator of EndoMune, said: "We are committed to supporting the health of our communities nationwide during this time of vulnerability an are grateful for our ability to do so when food banks are experiencing their greatest need."
The Nutty Gourmet is donating 6,720 nut butter jars to US Davis Medical Center to be passed out to medical center staff. Tony Varni, VP of Sales & Marketing, said: "UC Davis is very close to our hearts. As a fellow alum, I wanted to make sure our company did something to put a smile on the faces of these nurses and doctors who are risking their lives for our community day in and day out."
Bobo'shas announced an initiative to support the healthcare workers on the frontlines, by donating 20 Bobo's Bites for each six pack sold of the newly released Healthcare Hero bar. A six-pack of the bar will retail for $19.99 on thecompany's website. T.J. McIntyre, CEO, said: "We rely on our healthcare workers in a tremendous way—now more than ever. As an essential business, we are fortunate to continue making our wholesome, on-the-go snacks for consumers, but we need to take the extra effort to support our modern-day healthcare heroes on the frontline during these extraordinary times. We wish all healthcare workers, frontline workers, and their families the best of health and express our deepest thanks for everything they are doing for our country. We are honored to be able to give back to them in a meaningful way with our products." Anyone looking to directly support this mission, as well as hospitals and medical teams in need of pre-packaged food, can contact the team athero@eatbobos.com.
Orgainhas committed to donating 100,000 Clean Protein shakes to healthcare workers, through the company's newly launched Shakes For Heroes program. Several hospitals have already received donations, including New York Presbyterian and UCLA Medical; healthcare providers and their friends and family can nominate qualified medical professionalshere.Dr. Andrew Abraham, Founder, said: "Our main goal is to express our gratitude towards the healthcare workers sacrificing their own health, time, and energy to fight this virus. We want to get the word out to as many people as possible so we can provide some essential healthy nutrition to these healthcare heroes to help sustain them through these demanding times."
Milo's Teais giving away up to 2,000 gallons of its tea and lemonade to first responders battling against and treating COVID-19. Firemen, policemen, members of the national guard, FEMA, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and hospital and nursing home staff can sign up to receive a free gallon here. The program will run either as long as supplies last or until April 30. Tricia Wallwork, CEO, said: "In this tumultuous time, our hearts go out to all who have been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. The world is confronting an issue of enormous scale and human impact, and the Milo's team is committed to people first, which includes supporting the communities in which we live and work."
RSP Nutritionwill donate 100% of proceeds from sales sitewide made on April 7—World Health Day—to the American Red Cross. The goal is to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives at the forefront of the COVID-19 response.
Persona Nutritionis thanking up to 1,000 first responders with three months of free personalized vitamins. Firefighters, police officers, and EMTs can visitPersona's Instagramto register for free vitamins. They will complete a brief questionnaire, and the vitamins will be delivered to their doorstep. This is the latest action Persona is taking to help those in need during the pandemic: In the past month, the company has donated more than $500,000 through Vitamin Angels and Meals on Wheels America. Jason Brown, Founder and CEO, said: "Our first responders make difficult sacrifices every day and put others' needs before their own. Giving as many of them as we possibly can access to high-quality nutritional supplements is a small token of our appreciation. We are proud to initiate our first responder program and are hopeful we can continue giving in the weeks and months to come."
SoapboxCEO David Simnick has tapped its supply chain to purchase 23 semi truck tankers of ethyl alcohol to get sanitizer stock to retailers and hospitals. 2.5 million Soapbox Hand Sanitizers are now in route to more than 13,000 grocery/drug stores, as well as to 7,000 Starbucks stores for employee use. Following Soapbox's usual model—providing a bar of soap to someone in need for every product sold—these efforts have allowed the company to donate 2.5 million bars of soap to homeless shelters and food pantries nationwide through Feeding America.
Kate Farmshas donated more than 100,000 plant-based, organic, non-GMO meals toMeals on Wheels West, which will be distributed directly to seniors, the chronically I'll, veterans, and other vulnerable populations, beginning in Santa Monica and greater Los Angeles this week and expanding to communities statewide next week. Kate Farms' Chief Medical Officer Cynthia Ambres, M.D., and Territory Manager Austin Light volunteered their time to help pack meals, as well. John Hommeyer, Chief Experience Officer at Kate Farms, said: "Now is the time to come together to support Americans who are most at risk. We saw a need in our community to help our elderly neighbors, and with Meals on Wheels, are delivering plant-based nutrition to their doorsteps. This is one of the ways we're supporting organizations committed to caring for the people in our communities who are most at risk, and we encourage others to give whatever they can during this time to lift our communities."
Chiquitahas donated one million bananas to communities impacted by COVID-19 across the U.S., focusing on vulnerable populations such as children and seniors. The company is distributing the bananas through organizations including Feeding America, Lotus House, Fresh Point, Camillus House, and Flipany. President Carlos Lopez Flores said: "At the heart of Chiquita, we are farmers and banana growers who recognize our responsibility to provide nutritious bananas to people facing food insecurity during these uncertain times. We are fortunate that we are able to donate fresh bananas to the many organizations in need and will continue to work with our partners at a local and national level to ensure we're maintaining our mission of being a Good Neighbor. We hope our donations not only provide the much-needed nutrition, but also a smile to those in need."
Steeped, Inc. has launched"You Give, We Give,"a campaign to help fuel frontline doctors, nurses, and first responders. The campaign invites people to gift Steeped Coffee Packs to those on the front lines; Steeped will match all gifts pack for pack, and provide weekly deliveries directly to the hospitals, stations, and clinics where they're needed most. Steeped Packs are brewed similar to tea, requiring only hot water to make a cup of coffee. Josh Wilbur, Founder and CEO, said: "We are always looking for ways Steeped can serve as a positive force for good. We were brainstorming ways when it dawned on us that Steeped Coffee could be a great option for the healthcare heroes working tirelessly around the clock to save lives. People don't want to use shared coffee pots right now, and those on the front lines don't have time to make coffee runs during crazy long shifts. Sometimes a simple cup of great coffee can make a difference."
Jiaherb has supplied over 20,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals—Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ; Orange County Medical Center in Anaheim, CA; and Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC. Chris Oesterheld, VP, said: "After learning how our local and national healthcare workers are in jeopardy due to shortages of personal protective equipment, we put our own rapid supply chain capability to work on their behalf." Scott Chen, President, added: "Given the growing shortages of PPE in medical facilities, we have an opportunity and an obligation to help. Our thoughts are with those suffering from this pandemic, and we are immensely grateful to the healthcare workers who are at the front lines caring for them."
For the Biomeis offering weekly live group meditations online for free, open to one and all. The company's co-founder Barbi Schulick has been meditating and teaching for over 45 years. "As so many of us shelter at home," she said, "there has been a surge of interest in meditation for cultivating self-compassion, kindness, and equanimity when we need them the most."Join For The Biomeevery Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. EST for free group meditation.
MadeGoodhas pledged nearly $100,000 in combined support toI Grow ChicagoandMarillac St. Vincent, two Chicagoland non-profit organizations providing services and relief programs to underserved neighborhoods throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation will go towards minimizing food insecurity concerns, as well as ensuring continued eldercare and mental health support for Chicagoans. Nima Fotovat, President of Riverside Natural Foods, manufacturers of MadeGood, said: "In these uncertain times, we remain committed to our core values of leaving the world a better place than we found it. We are fortunate to be in a position where we are able to support two noteworthy organizations that continue to provide essential human services for those in need throughout the city of Chicago."
Chlorophyll Wateris making their water more accessible to all, according to a press release. For those in quarantine, the company is offering 15% off and free shipping across the U.S. for the next three weeks, when orders are placed using the code STRONGERTOGETHER. In Los Angeles, the company has partnered with Erewhon Markets to provide free Chlorophyll Water for senior citizens during their Senior Citizen Hours from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.; senior citizens and the immunocompromised will receive one bottle of Chlorophyll Water for free for the next two weeks. And in New York City, the company has teamed up with Whole Foods Market, the Bowery Mission, Hillside Food Outreach, and Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen to provide Chlorophyll Water for their bottled water requests. The company urges people to join them in these efforts by supplying food and hydration for these causes; those looking to help can email the company atplantkindness@chlorophyllwater.com.
NuCal Foods,a Northern California distributor of local eggs, will be donating six million eggs to local California food banks, nonprofits, food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. The eggs are frozen in 5-gallon containers. Dave Crockett, President of NuCal, said in a press release: "No one should go hungry during this challenging COVID-19 emergency. With school closures and job losses, thousands of Californians will depend on local nonprofits for help. These nutritious eggs may be a blessing to many people during this challenging time." NuCal is requesting the assistance of trucking companies that can donate their distribution services to deliver the eggs. Organizations feeding those in need that would like to participate in this donation should call Dawn Forsmann at NuCal Foods at (209)254-2200.
So Good So Youis donating care packs of their benefit-forward juice shots to say thank you and to fuel medical professionals. The brand is conducting contact-free drops at hospitals across the nation, prioritizing hospitals with the greatest need according to information provided by the CDC. However,you can nominatehealthcare workers and hospitals to receive healthcare packages. Having launched the program with 20 Hospital Heroes packages, Co-Founders Rita Katona and Eric Hall toldWholeFoods: "We are now asking our community to help us reach many, many more. We have not set a ceiling and hope to be able to support as many locations as possible. Feeling connected and supported is critical to feeling valued and appreciated. We are grateful to be able to bridge the support from our community to those giving each day to keep all of us healthy and safe."
Reed’s,makers of ginger beer, has converted their consumer sampling truck into a delivery truck. Over the next few weeks, the truck will be visiting hospitals, fire stations, and medical centers in the LA, OC, and San Diego county areas to donate the extra product they were planning on bringing to Expo West to medical professionals and first responders.
Paragon Laboratoriesis donating its supply of N95 respirators to hospitals in the Southern California area—that’s 3,600 masks. Jay Kaufman, CEO, said in a press release: “We want to support the health and safety of our healthcare community who are risking their lives as they continue to combat the virus.”
Organics Unlimitedis deploying its GROW disaster relief fund to help communities and workers: It will help source additional personal protective equipment and respirators for clinic providers to the uninsured, and it will support the San Diego Worker Assistance Initiative, which provides resources to those impacted by layoffs and reduced working hours. CEO and President Mayra Velazquez de León said: “GROW was created to support the communities we impact. During this time, it’s more important than ever to come together as a community, so to that end, we have deployed funds from our Disaster Relief GROW Sub-fund which was designed for situations such as the current COVID-19 global pandemic.”
Maple Hill Creamery, a grass-fed, regen ag, organic brand, has partnered with New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets to distribute 200,000 cartons of their milk and yogurt to residents in need. Donations will be distributed through areas hit hardest by COVID-19, including New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. CEO Carl Gerlach said: “We recognize the importance of stepping up and taking care of friends and neighbors during these times. We want to give back to a state that has given us so much over the years.”
Krogeris forming employment partnerships with local, regional, and national businesses in the most-affected industries to temporarily flex employees to Kroger roles. What this means in practice: Kroger has provided career opportunities to more than 23,500 workers nationwide from sectors including restaurants, hotels, and food service distributors, and plans to hire an additional 20,000 workers over the next several weeks to help the company continue to provide fresh food and other necessities. Kroger’s average hourly wage is $15/hour; candidates can apply viajobs.kroger.com.
Mother’s Market & Kitchen,asWholeFoodsreported in-depth here, has initiated a fast-track online process to enable local businesses to get their food and products into the chain’s stores. Businesses who have been affected by restaurant, hotel, and resort closures can therefore ensure their employees continue to receive wages, and customers of Mother’s Market have access to much-needed staples.
