*endy have partnered with st paul’s hospital in vancouver to provide mattresses for health care workers. photo: endy facebook*

By Mario Toneguzzi

Canadian retailers across the country are stepping up in any way they can to help in the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic relief efforts.

For example, with the increase in demand for personal protection equipment in Canada, major Canadian retailer Harry Rosen is committed to helping in the relief effort. To that end, it is collaborating with partner Shirt Fit to repurpose its Harry Rosen Signature dress shirts to produce protective non-medical face masks.

They are reusable and suitable for hospital visitors, discharged patients as well as the broader community.

Harry Rosen will be donating the masks to Canadian hospitals in need with the first one being the Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto.

“This started a few weeks ago in the midst of everyone trying to figure out what was happening. It’s been quite the journey. We started hearing more and more about how in other countries there’s a shortage of PPE’s - that’s personal protective equipment, and we started hearing the rumblings of that in Canada although at the time the reports that we were reading were that we’re good for now but we were probably headed in that same direction,” said Trinh Tham, Chief Marketing Officer for Harry Rosen.

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We are pleased to help with the Covid-19 relief effort by collaborating with our partner, Shirt Fit, to repurpose the production of our Harry Rosen Signature dress shirts to produce protective non-clinical face masks. Each mask is handmade here in Canada using 100% cotton and is washable and reusable. They are suitable for hospital visitors, discharged patients, as non-frontline Canadians. We will be donating these face masks to Canadian hospitals in need, the first of which is @michaelgarronhospital here in Toronto. Harry Rosen is happy to contribute in any way we can and we thank all the front-line workers for their tireless work and effort during this crisis.

A post shared by Harry Rosen (@harryroseninc) on Apr 4, 2020 at 7:09am PDT

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From the desk of Larry Rosen.

A post shared by Harry Rosen (@harryroseninc) on Apr 1, 2020 at 5:05pm PDT

“We’ve got partners, we’ve got resources in our network that could possibly pivot to help out with the relief effort. As much as we want to take care of our customers, our employees, we’re a Canadian brand that has been around for 66 years and even if we’re not a giant multinational who can maybe buy hundreds of thousands of masks or gowns I do think that in any way that we can we should contribute.”

Another custom shirt maker, Toronto-based King & Bay, launched a campaign encouraging Canadians to create a personal-use facemask from an article of clothing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and to help ensure medical N95 respiratory masks are prioritized for frontline medical workers. The “Shirt Off Your Back” campaign includes an instructional video.

Toronto-based shirtmaker, Michel’s Bespoke, is selling sleek facemaks on its website in three colours: white, light blue and black. Two options include a simple version priced at $19.95 and a custom monogramed version priced at $44.95 (images directly below).

Across the country, other retailers have launched their own specific efforts to help the cause of COVID-19 relief.

Save-On-Foods launched a $1 million campaign to feed kids in need across Western Canada. It has committed $500,000 toward the $1 million fundraising goal aimed at giving kids easier access to school meal supports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know that kids need nutritious meals and we are absolutely committed to helping these organizations continue their critical mission despite school closures. The work our community partners do to feed young Canadians is so important,” said Save-On-Foods President Darrell Jones. “We are grateful to Breakfast Club of Canada and our other partners who have joined forces with us to support our schools and students. I know our customers share our commitment to our communities and will blow us away with their generosity.”

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With an estimated one in five school-aged kids in Canada relying on school-based nutrition programs, school closures mean many Canadian kids are unsure where their next meal will come from. Schools and community groups throughout Western Canada are working with parents to ensure vulnerable kids get the support they need. So we’re collecting donations to support these programs and will match up to $500,000. Make your donation of $2 or 500 More Rewards points at the till at any of our Save-On-Foods locations. Or donate online through one of our partner agencies #feedkidsnow All money raised locally stays local – that means each community will be helping kids right in their local areas.

A post shared by Save-On-Foods (@saveonfoods) on Apr 2, 2020 at 4:35pm PDT

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To support the medical professionals around the world working to protect our health and safety, Fast Retailing is donating 10 million masks to high priority facilities around the world. In the United States, Fast Retailing is donating 1.05 million masks through UNIQLO USA. At this time, we share our deep respect for the many people who are providing care for those affected. We wish you and your family to stay healthy and well. UNIQLO

A post shared by uniqlousa (@uniqlousa) on Apr 2, 2020 at 7:06am PDT

In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, UNIQLO Canada will donate 200,000 masks to high-priority medical facilities across Canada.

Vancouver-based Arc’teryx says that it will produce 30,000 medical gowns that will provide protection to local healthcare workers in BC and address the shortage in the region. The brand collaborated with local health authorities to create a prototype and design.

Toronto-based women’s footwear brand Zvelle said that is honouring healthcare heroes by gifting them a pair of the brand’s Stowe sandals. “We wanted to bring some beauty and inspiration into their lives at a time when they need it most. Fashion might seem frivolous at the present time but at Zvelle we see this as an opportunity for self-expression and sharing our values with the world.”

Dragons’ Den star Vince Guzzo added inspirational t-shirts to his ‘Mr. Sunshine’ fashion brand. Developed in collaboration with Montréal- based Ruddy Lad Co., one of the Dragon’s on-set investments, the collection serves to spread a positive spirit amid the COVID-19 crisis. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each t-shirt is being donated to the Montréal Jewish General Hospital.

The t-shirts featuring “Ruddy Lad’s iconic character, sharp comments, and memorable style” that Guzzo says communicates key messages to encourage people to stay home and maintain social distancing.

IKEA Canada announced that is would provide approximately $2.3 million in product and supply donations to support local communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The retailer will first focus its relief efforts on vulnerable communities including the homeless, newcomers, refugees and children. That will include providing home furnishings to ensure they have a safe and comfortable home during these challenging times. It will also support those leading COVID-19 relief efforts by providing relevant supplies from its range to medical services and facilities. Tens of thousands of N-95 masks found in storage have already been donated, for example.

BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc. says that it has pledged to donate up to $2 million of its Hydration Mix to front-line workers and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company says that it wants to ensure that front-line staff are healthy and hydrated so they can do their jobs to the best of their ability. The drink includes vitamins, zinc and amino acids, and it claims to help boost the immune system and maintain hydration levels which can improve overall health with no sugar.

BIO RAW, Toronto’s only certified organic meal delivery service is supporting its local community by offering fresh, nutritious meal options, in eco-friendly packaging with free contactless delivery. They have also launched the BIO RAW Supports initiative to raise funds for local community organizations and charities, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Feed It Forward, Pride Toronto, as well as a BIO RAW fund for delivery of meals to frontline workers.

“Our goal is to keep our 30+ staff employed and safe. We have taken extra steps to support social distancing by providing all production staff with private transportation to and from our kitchen facility,” said Oren Epstein, Owner of BIO RAW. “I choose to use my business as a force of good - it's about doing all that we can to support the health, safety, and well-being of our staff and community. BIO RAW meals are more accessible than ever through free contactless home delivery and at over 100 retailers across Ontario. We have increased our sanitation measures and are following all recommended protocols in order to continue safely serving our community to the best of our ability.”

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BIO RAW SUPPORTS 🖤 ⠀ ⠀ As a small local business, we are doing all that we can to support those in need within our community. We are proud to share that we have launched BIO RAW SUPPORTS, a program to raise funds for local charities and community organizations. BIO RAW has also set up a fund for the delivery of our nourishing meals to frontline workers!👩🏽‍⚕️🏥👨🏻‍⚕️ ⠀ ⠀ ✅ BIO RAW SUPPORTS offers fundraising opportunities for charity and community organizations who have partnered with us.⠀ ⠀ ✅ We’ve been delivering healthy meals to frontline workers through the BIO RAW Frontline Workers Fund. Send us a DM if you’re a frontline worker and you’d like your organization to be included as a recipient.⠀ ⠀ ✅ Customers can also make a donation to support the Frontline Workers Fund and any of our charity and community organization partners at checkout.⠀ ⠀ ✅ To help make healthy meals more accessible we are committed to offering FREE contactless meal delivery anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area. 🚚 ⠀ ⠀ ✅ Our goal is to keep our 30+ staff employed and safe. We have taken extra steps to support social distancing by providing all production staff with private transportation to and from our kitchen facility, and work from home options for our non-essential staff. We have increased our sanitation measures and are following all recommended protocols in order to continue safely serving our community to the best of our ability.⠀ ⠀ We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support that we’ve received. At BIO RAW, we’re using our business as a force of good - it’s about doing all that we can to support the health, safety, and well-being of our staff and community.⠀ ⠀ We hope that you are staying healthy! Have a Happy Saturday☀️

A post shared by Fast-Food Made With Integrity (@bioraw) on Apr 4, 2020 at 7:02am PDT

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Imagine working a long shift in a busy hospital, on your feet for hours at a time with no breaks, trying to provide the best possible care for COVID-19 patients. When you finally have a chance to rest between shifts, you have to choose between a thin plastic mattress, or a stretcher in the hospital hallway. This was the reality for frontline healthcare workers in the intensive and critical care units (ICU and CCU) at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Last week, we received an urgent plea for help from an anesthesiologist at the hospital. Their current situation needed to change, and we knew we could help. We are honoured to partner with St. Paul’s Hospital to donate enough mattresses, pillows, and mattress protectors to help their frontline healthcare workers get the sleep they need to fight for all of us—and win. Click the link in our bio to read more about our donation. #giveback #community #endy #bettertogether #frontline #covid19 #essentialservices #support #donation #corona #coronavirus #healthcare #canadian

A post shared by Endy (@endy) on Apr 2, 2020 at 6:40am PDT

Mattress company Endy has partnered with St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, an acute care and teaching hospital hit by COVID-10, to donate enough mattresses, pillows, and mattress protectors to create comfortable sleeping quarters for the entirety of the doctors and nurses providing round-the-clock care on the frontlines of the ICU (intensive care unit) and CCU (critical care unit).

“Imagine being away from your loved ones, fighting a virus that has been sweeping the globe, working countless hours, day and night, to care for those in need. This is the experience of frontline healthcare workers coast-to-coast and around the world,” said Rajen Ruparell, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Endy.

“Recently, we were devastated to learn that medical staff at St. Paul’s Hospital — the doctors and nurses going to battle for us — were sleeping on hospital stretchers, just to get by. We knew we had to help. This donation is a reflection of our love and appreciation for healthcare workers across Canada. It has been inspiring to see our country come together during these uncertain times, helping in any way they can. From all of us at Endy, and our customers coast-to-coast, thank you.”

Mario Toneguzzi, based in Calgary has 37 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald covering sports, crime, politics, health, city and breaking news, and business. For 12 years as a business writer, his main beats were commercial and residential real estate, retail, small business and general economic news. He nows works on his own as a freelance writer and consultant in communications and media relations/training. Email: mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com

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