Team PBFA has been searching for positivity amidst these increasingly difficult times. In addition to compiling resources for businesses navigating these times, we’ve been keeping an eye on how our network is taking action. Members are working tirelessly to not only ensure consumers can still access the foods they know and love, but they are also going above and beyond in giving back to their communities. We wanted to share some examples that we noticed.
If we missed yours, please email Kate@plantbasedfoods.org and we will add it.
A number of members have made incredibly generous donations:
- Dr. Bronner’s set aside 2% of their hand sanitizer production to organizations supporting high-risk communities and an additional 2% to support agencies such as Fire Departments and EMS providers.
- Roquette started producing disinfectant gel at its facilities for donation at local hospitals. They also donated thousands of protective masks in China, donated to food banks in the U.S., and provided groceries for workers in India.
- Danone pledged to donate $1.2 million to food access organizations. They also committed an additional $300,000 in food donations.
- Califia Farms recently launched a campaign to raise awareness about how we can all make a difference in our local communities, in addition to their generous food donations to The Los Angeles Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Metro Café, and Lunch on Me.
- nutpods is donating #plantbased creamers to the staff at UCLA Health.
- Tofurky made sure the Oregon Food Bank was stocked with their plant-based meats.
- Many members in New York City are working to help their local communities through donations, including Chlorophyll Water and Lupii.
- Hungry Planet Foods also helped donate a few thousand plant-based meals in St. Louis.
- Lavva donated 10 shipments of their yogurts to communities in need.
- Victory Hemp processed and packed up 100lbs of shelled hemp seeds (hemp hearts) to provide to those in need at their local Carroll County Food Pantry.
- Good Karma Foods is donating plant-based milks and yogurts through Community Food Share as well as the Boulder Public School lunch program.
- Beyond Meat pledged to donate one million plant-based burgers.
- Meatless Farm donated funds and plant-based meats to Bowery Mission in NYC and are also providing support to DeRossi Restaurants in their efforts to provide free vegan lunches NYC children.
- O’My Dairy Free Gelato is raising awareness of limited allergy-friendly food banks across the country by providing financial support to the Spokin Cares campaign. This campaign supports the Food Equality Initiative, an organization helping to get allergy-friendly options in the hands of those who need it most right now. They are also donating product in states where they have distribution centers, most recently over 3,500 pints in NC to CCM Hickory and Second Harvest.
Some members turned their focus towards feeding the doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers who are championing the fight to save lives every day:
- Rulebreaker Snacks sent a shipment of their snacks to Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.
- Revolution Gelato started a campaign to gift Atlanta hospital workers their gelato.
- Next Level Burger launched a campaign called “Feeding the Fearless” to keep healthcare professionals in Seattle and San Francisco nourished with plant-based meals.
- Herbivorous Butcher launched a campaign where people can donate $5 to feed a healthcare worker in Minneapolis.
- Barr Necessities donated plant-based cookies to health professionals in New York.
Other foodservice and restaurant members are also doing their part to encourage social distancing while keeping hungry people fed:
- Follow Your Heart’s market created take-home meal kits for Los Angeles residents.
- Herbivorous Butcher launched curbside pick-ups in Minneapolis.
- Board Member Miyoko Schinner’s new Facebook live cooking series shows viewers how to make some of her favorite comfort foods from Miyoko’s Creamery, in their own kitchens.
This crisis may seem overwhelming, but as these and many more of our members are demonstrating, we can all do something! We truly are stronger together. To keep up to date with resources for businesses to navigate these times, check out our COVID Response blog.
Is your company doing something altruistic to benefit your local community? Do you have ideas for PBFA? Let us know by emailing kate@plantbasedfoods.org