These are unprecedented times given the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, and although most of the world is in crisis mode, many are still taking the time for doing good, and are thinking of others. Here are some of our favorite examples. If you have your own story of doing good, please send it to me at [email protected]. Let’s do our best to find the silver lining and share these uplifting stories.
Free Hand Sanitizer in a Quest for Doing Good
Luxury goods company LVMH, the parent company of such high-profile brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Guerlain, and Givenchy, is using its production facilities that usually make perfumes and cosmetics, to make large quantities of hand sanitizer that is being delivered to French health agencies and then distributed at hospitals, doing good for countless people.
“Through this initiative, LVMH intends to help the address the risk of a lack of product in France and enable a greater number of people to continue to take the right action to protect themselves from the spread of the virus,” the company said.
Food Donation
As conferences across the country have postponed due to the coronavirus, many have been left with thousands of pounds of food. What to do? Donate. Food Rescue US is a platform many meeting professionals are turning to as it matches last-minute food donations with volunteers who can pick it up and deliver to local charities.
Community Kitchens
In response to the increasing risk of the COVID-19 coronavirus, famed Chef José Andrés and ThinkFoodGroup has temporarily closed all of its restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area and New York City, and has repurposed most of them as “community kitchens” with affordable plates of the day available for takeout purchase.
“We are in a serious global emergency and people need to take every precaution, including staying home as much as possible. However, we also want to help provide food for those who want it in a safe manner, so we feel these community kitchens can help during this challenging time. And those who cannot afford to pay we will welcome as well,” says Chef Andrés
The community kitchens will operate out of the restaurants’ side doors with a limited number of volunteers from 12pm to 5 pm daily beginning March 17, offering only takeout service. In addition, all restaurant employees will be provided with paid leave and current health benefits for at least the first two weeks.
The ThinkFoodGroup restaurants that are operating as community kitchens include: Mercado Little Spain, Hudson Yards, New York: Little Spain’s Spanish Diner will operate a community kitchen from the glass garage doors; America Eats Tavern, Georgetown: A community kitchen will operate from the front door;. Jaleo, Bethesda: A community kitchen will operate from the side door; Jaleo, Crystal City: A community kitchen will operate from the patio space; Jaleo, Penn Quarter: A community kitchen will operate from the side door; Oyamel, Penn Quarter: A community kitchen will operate from the side door; and Zaytinya, Penn Quarter: A community kitchen will operate from the side door.
Supportive Gifts
Gifts for the Good Lifeis a gifting company that has created kits with the current challenges meeting planners are dealing with kept in mind. The Home/Work kit was created with helping staff transition from working in an office to working from home in mind. Inspiring items in the kit include motto pencils, live air plants, and a custom pad and door tag.
Stay Well kits include everyday self-care items like a custom tea blend, honey sticks, immune boosters, and comfy socks, On-the-Go kits include a travel humidifier, collapsible water bottle, and all-purpose wipes, and a Safe Travel kit includes a charger, disinfectant spray, and hand sanitizing spray.
Unlimited Data
As most are now working from home, many cable and utility companies are doing their part in giving back. Comcast, for instance, is offering free access to its Xfinity WiFi hot spots for everyone, even non-subscribers, for the next 60 days. It’s also giving its customers unlimited data at no extra charge.
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