As people around the world are impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, many are finding opportunities to step up and provide help, assistance, and resources in a great time of need. Our team at Genesis Seating is doing just that.

Genesis Seating in Kentwood, Michigan, typically produces upholstery for furniture. They’re now making cloth face masks for Spectrum Health, government and non-profit health care organizations.

“We started production this week and are hoping to produce roughly 80,000 masks for Spectrum,” said Kevin Kuske, Genesis Seating Private-Label President.

“We did not need to retool any equipment, but we did need to work with Steelcase and Spectrum to develop a design, source materials that do not conflict with other health care supply chains and train our sewing team to make these masks. We are bringing back to work employee volunteers to staff this effort.”

Kuske said employees greeted the opportunity with enthusiasm.

“Our team was ecstatic to help out,” he said. “Many of them have family members and friends who work for Spectrum and other health care groups and they want them protected. We all want to feel like we are helping bring this crisis to an end, and this is the part we can play to help protect those on the front line who are putting their health at risk every day to care for those in need.”

This story was originally written and published by Spectrum Health Beat.

During these difficult times spent in isolation, it isn’t always easy to find ways to connect to each other and our communities. Despite this, our team at Peterson Chemicals in Fort Smith, Arkansas, found themselves in a unique position to give back to their fellow employees.

After learning about the nationwide shortage of hand sanitizer, the team got to work to find out how they could help.

As a chemical manufacturer, they recognized their ability to produce hand sanitizer in bulk, and they proactively took on this extra effort while still being able to provide other inputs to the supply chain. A team of about 10 employees significantly contributed to the hand sanitizer project, researching formulas, accessing chemical components, performing lab work, and becoming Hazmat certified to ship product all over the country.

In just one week, the branch moved from having never manufactured hand sanitizer to completing their first 40-gallon batch!

Their first several batches are being shipped domestically to internal L&P branches. The team at Peterson worked closely with our L&P Procurement team to gather details and materials for the shipping process. The Procurement team quickly helped secure hand pumps, containers, and shipping materials.

Having now completed the first few batches, the team at Peterson Chemicals is currently working with our L&P Legal Department to fast-track FDA registration for the product, which would allow them to also donate to the community and offer the product to hospitals, nursing homes, and other places in need of hand sanitizer.

Although their team is small, the work they’re doing for others is monumental. According to Product and Marketing Manager Courtney Hironaka, their goal is to do as much as they can. “This is a perfect example of teamwork and how much everyone here really cares about making an impact,” she says. Thank you to our Peterson Chemicals team for all you’re doing to keep us healthy!

L&P was happy to partner with Joyfield Flower Truck in spreading love today. Each bouquet earned a donation for United Way — plus the flowers are beautiful! #DoSomeGood

‘Tis the season to give back and do some good! Our team at Pegasus is doing just that.

They participated in the Middletown Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family Program, which means they sponsored families experiencing severe economic, emotional, or physical crises.

For the holidays, they “adopted” three assigned families by purchasing new clothing, toys, household items, and grocery store certificates.

Since mid-November, they’ve collected over 100 items to donate! They plan to spread holiday cheer by donating the items today.

We value a culture of giving and encourage our employees to Do Some Good. One way is through our annual United Way campaign, which has challenged our employees to raise $125,000 this year! Over the course of the campaign, we have featured several incredible United Way funded agencies. Learn more about their stories and the effective work they do to help those who need it most in our communities.

Carthage Crisis Center

The Carthage Crisis Center is a faith-based shelter committed to helping homeless individuals in the Carthage, MO, area. Their services provide compassionate support to those entering their doors, including employment assistance, clothing, food, and a warm bed to sleep in at night. Each day, their facility provides housing for up to 20 males, 20 females, and 4 families. The location operates as a recycling center and uses profits from that service to maintain their facility. They also developed a food network of 70 organizations, which distributes about 500,000 pounds of food annually.

Their work has touched the lives of many individuals in our community — often giving families the support they need to put their lives in order. Here is just one example. Continue reading →

We value a culture of giving and encourage our employees to Do Some Good. One way is through our annual United Way campaign, which has challenged our employees to raise $125,000 this year! Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight several incredible United Way funded agencies. Learn more about their stories and the effective work they do to help those who need it most in our communities.

Joplin Family Y

Recently, Feeding America found that every 1 in 5 kids goes to bed hungry. The Joplin Family Y regularly sees children who lack access to nutritious foods and come through their doors hungry. As a service to our community, the Y seeks to help kids develop and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

The YMCA knows that kids are emotionally and socially impacted when they have access to food and healthy activities. Just one of the Y’s programs – “Fuel Up, Stay Fit” – provides meals to local children, including after school snacks at 15 elementary schools, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the summer months. During the past school year, the Y served an astounding 77,997 healthy snacks and 19,733 nutritional meals to 700 children!

One of the students in the YMCA’s program, Aiden, is just one success story. Aiden had fallen into bad habits. He didn’t like eating fruits and vegetables, was eating fast food multiple times a week, and he didn’t have much physical activity in his routine. Through “Fuel Up, Stay Fit,” Aiden started eating healthy snacks and meals and had lots of options for both physical and social activities. Before long, Aiden began to love everything on his plate, including vegetables! As a result of the Y’s program, Aiden ate better, felt better about himself, and adopted a far more active lifestyle.

The Y is creating change in our community by creating change in our kids. As a proud supporter of the United Way, we can also be proud to know we have helped kids, just like Aiden, become healthier members of our community.

For more information about the services available at Joplin Family Y, visit joplinfamilyy.org

It feels good to do some good!

Our Pegasus team collected 225 pounds of food for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown, CT, and they’ll continue their giving efforts through the holiday season.

#giveback #dosomegood

We value a culture of giving and encourage our employees to Do Some Good. One way is through our annual United Way campaign, which has challenged our employees to raise $125,000 this year! Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight several incredible United Way funded agencies. Learn more about their stories and the effective work they do to help those who need it most in our communities.

Lafayette House

There is a safe place in Joplin, MO, where women, children, and families can go to seek refuge. Programs, resources, and support are readily available for those living in fear and at-risk situations due to substance abuse, domestic violence, or sexual assault. Last year, the Lafayette House served over 1,300 people in our community. Every woman, every child, and each family are forever changed by the help they receive.

“Lafayette House gave me my life back.”

Susan’s entire life was impacted by the assistance she received at Lafayette House. She was in an unhealthy marriage with three children, each of whom had varying degrees of special needs. Her family lived in a remote area with no electricity or running water. She reported that her spouse was controlling and emotionally abusive; he often threatened to leave and take the children. Susan didn’t drive, didn’t communicate with anyone outside of her home, and she felt isolated and alone. In an effort to protect her children, she filed for a divorce. However, she had nowhere to go and the abuse continued to increase.

When Susan first came to the Lafayette House, she couldn’t make eye contact with anyone. She spoke very softly and had no sense of self-worth. Immediately, a case manager offered her individual counseling and assistance in connecting to community resources. Susan was able to gain access to the resources she desperately needed: housing, transportation, food, utilities, clothing, as well as advocacy to navigate her ongoing divorce, school communications, and custody issues.

Susan’s Lafayette House story began in 2016. Today, she continues to participate in programs offered by the Lafayette House. She has gained self-confidence and is learning to feel positive about herself. Susan now laughs and is making friends. With full-custody, she is also able to provide a healthy home for herself and her three children.

Susan’s story now has a different narrative, one that includes hope for a happier ending due to the CHANGE the Lafayette House helped to create. She is forever grateful and so are her three children.

For more information about the services available at The Lafayette House, visit lafayettehouse.org