10 Business Stories That Will Restore Your Hope During This Strange Time

It’s difficult to describe the countless ways the coronavirus pandemic has turned life upside down. For many of us, each day feels like we’re stuck in some strange limbo waiting for things to “get back to normal” – what that looks like has yet to be determined.

Some of us have been working and/or teaching kids from home for weeks. Many of us are now without jobs or cut off from family and friends. Others have become full-time caretakers for affected loved ones. Still others are working on the frontlines to care for the sick and keep all of us fed and safe.

It’s easy to get caught up in the swirl of negative headlines – but there are still positive things happening every day. To bring some good vibes to your news feed, we rounded up 10 inspiring stories culled from our own research and a HARO query (from that alone we received 100 responses of companies doing good in the pandemic!).

1. GO BIG is donating 10,000 energy shots to hospitals. Knowing that healthcare workers across the globe are working long hours to save lives, the company is now offering free energy drinks to healthcare professionals.
2. Caresplit launched a free tool to help parents home-school their kids. Their website now allows parents to coordinate virtual homework sessions with other parents using live video. When one parent supervises the session, the other can focus on work and vice versa.
3. Dixie Southern Vodka pledged 10% of all online sales to the United States Bartender Guild Relief Fund. It doesn’t just end there – Dixie partnered with NASCAR to develop “The Dixie Vodka 150,” a virtual eNASCAR iRACE where top competitors “drove” from their living rooms. The race was televised on FSN, and it raised $40,000 for Feed the Children South Florida.
4. Outmatch is offering free video interviewing to help companies virtually hire. Understanding that many organizations need to quickly fill critical roles, this iCIMS partner is giving companies free access to its video technology.
5. Adventurist Backpack Co. is providing 25 meals to families in need across the U.S. for every backpack it sells. After just one week of launching the program, the millennial-run brand provided 5,000 meals to the COVID-19 Response Fund.
6. Gucci is set to provide 1,100,000 surgical masks and 55,000 medical overalls. Doing their part to address the medical supply shortage, the major fashion label is using their resources to create much-needed personal protective equipment.
7. Kiehl’s donated 500,000 meals to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. The brand’s donation will directly fund the production of emergency food boxes to be distributed to heavily impacted areas.
8. Talkspace is providing 1,000 free months of messaging therapy to medical and healthcare workers. Recognizing that our dedicated healthcare professionals need the support, Talkspace will also match 100% of the hours any therapist donates in response to COVID-19.
9. Serta Simmons Bedding has donated 10,000 mattresses. The company is working directly with New York City hospitals and temporary medical facilities aggressively fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
10. Starbucks is giving away free coffee. All police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other hospital or medical staffers are eligible for free tall hot or iced coffees through May 3.

Like good neighbors, businesses have come together in so many remarkable ways. Companies and the people that run them are giving back when our world needs it most, and that’s a piece of this strange and stressful time that we’ll carry with us. Thank you to all the organizations mentioned above for ensuring that empathy, compassion and ingenuity are a part of our future.

What about your company? Do you have a story to share about how your organization is helping during this health crisis? Post how you’re giving back on social and be sure to tag @iCIMS. We’d love to share the good news.