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COVID-19 has brought many aspects of life to a halt. Businesses have been forced to shut down, school classrooms have moved online, and if possible, employees have transitioned to working from home. In the midst of all this change, however, shippers (with the help of carriers) are still moving goods — produce, essential goods and supplies, and home equipment — to make sure we have everything we need to continue living in our new reality.
Some shippers have gone the extra mile and donated funds, products, and altered their core businesses to support their community on a national scale. At Transfix, we’re proud to work with many shippers who are stepping up during this unprecedented time to fight against COVID-19.
Below are three examples of our shippers’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Target
Target has committed $10 million to its Coronavirus Relief Fund. From the $10 million fund, $5 million is going to state and local community organizations that support the most vulnerable and underrepresented populations. This includes the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which is focusing its resources on providing financial support and childcare, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation Disaster Response and Restoration Fund which is taking care of the elderly and the homeless.
$3 million will be provided to national nonprofits such as the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which works with nonprofits that help the most vulnerable populations, and Feeding America, which is providing hunger-relief through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries.
On top of its financial donations, Target has donated anti-viral and N95 masks to healthcare professionals and has committed to donating another 2 million KN95 masks to the medical community.
Unilever
Unilever has created a United for America initiative in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This includes providing $8 million worth of products in the form of food, soap, personal hygiene and home cleaning products from its brands such as Dove, Seventh Generation and Lipton. They’ve partnered with Feeding America to distribute these products.
They’ve earmarked May 21 as a National Day of Service to provide $12 million to support Americans in need. Every item produced in its 14 U.S. factories will be given to community partners to distribute to the most vulnerable populations. Unilever employees are also encouraged to volunteer with organizations on the frontline of the COVID-19 response. Additionally, Unilever is rallying other companies to join its initiative.
Finally, Unilever is providing $540 million of monetary relief to support the small and medium businesses they work with through early payments to suppliers and extending credit lines with small retail stores that rely on Unilever for products. This relief is meant to provide small businesses with financial liquidity and shield from layoffs.
Wayfair
Wayfair has taken a multi-prong approach to its COVID-19 response. They’ve provided various furniture equipment such tables and mattresses to field hospital relief efforts in Boston, New Orleans and the UK.
They have also donated furniture to refurbish Boston Medical Center’s East Newton Pavilion which is providing shelter to Boston’s homeless community during the quarantine period, and to the New Life Furniture Bank of MA that gives free furniture to those who need it.
To take advantage of its annual big sales, Wayfair donated 10% of profits to Feeding America to help power food banks and pantries around the country.
Finally, they donated $250,000 to a variety of employee-chosen charities that are working on the frontline of the COVID-19 response.
