Lina LecaroIt’s National Nurses Week, and honoring our medical workers has never been more necessary or significant. Here, we spotlight local businesses and initiatives giving back to those who put their own lives on the line to keep us healthy as we all battle coronavirus.
(Courtesy David Lynch Foundation)
Heal the Healers Now
This new initiative led by film legend David Lynch (an L.A. resident) aims to teach transcendental meditation to U.S. medical professionals battling COVID-19. The idea is to aid overworked nurses and doctors in “reducing anxiety, boosting resilience and healing trauma.” TM techniques provide deep relaxation and stress-reduction that has been previously been successful in medical schools, academic and VA medical centers, hospitals, military academies, substance abuse centers, prisons and more. Instruction for healthcare providers will include eight hours of training by a trauma-informed teacher, and a comprehensive, one-year follow up program. The technique is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice a day. Training will begin once health authorities give the greenlight for teaching medical workers onsite. “Save the doctors, save the nurses!” says filmmaker David Lynch, chair of the David Lynch Foundation in press materials. “This initiative will teach these courageous healthcare providers Transcendental Meditation so they can strengthen their immune systems, stay safe and continue to help others.” Supporting the initiative at HealTheHealersNow.org.
Hotels For Healthcare Heroes
Classic Hotel & Resorts family (CH&R), a family-owned hotel company featuring seven boutique hotels across California and Arizona, are offering complimentary hotel nights to healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus on the front lines. “We need to give our healthcare workers the hero’s welcome they deserve. Though we can never fully repay their service, we can honor their sacrifice,” President John Grossman said. Nominations for nurses and doctors can be made via the #Hospitality4HealthcareHeroes page or by tagging on Instagram and/or Twitter accounts with #Hospitality4HealthcareHeroes, now through May 15. With the goal of providing hope and well-deserved R&R to those savings lives during the pandemic, #Hospitality4HealthcareHeroes will award 250 recipients (selected at random) with a 2-night stay at any of their hotels or resorts. On Instagram or Twitter they request a photograph tagged with nominees, and a few words about why you are nominating them. Also tag #Hospitality4HealthcareHeroes.
(Courtesy Jaanuu)
A Little Sunshine For Medical Workers
Kicking off Nurses Week 2020, medical apparel brand Jaanuu will be honoring nurses with a new line of T-shirts. Sales of their You Are My Sunshine T-shirts for men, women and children will go 100 percent to the Emergency Child Care Program through the L.A. Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund, which provides tax-free stipends for hospital workers, prioritizing low-income employees, and helping them pay for childcare while working on the front lines. Jaanuu is be offering 25 percent off sitewide and giving customers the opportunity to buy nurses giftcards. jaanuu.com.
XOXOROW
In honor of National Nurses Week, one of our favorite DTLA shopping area’s ROW DTLA is looking to give back with #xoxoROW — a series of weekly giveaways featuring curated gift baskets and products to help those risking it all in hospitals. Prizes ship across the US. #xoxoROW kicks off the row’s month-long Made by YOU campaign, which celebrates community and small business owners (who need help too right now) and the customers who support them. Browse details on each prize package and enter to win here.
(Courtesy The Treatment Skin Boutique)
Skin Care for the Frontline
In response to healthcare workers seeking advice for severe dry skin and rashes caused by frequent hand washing and facemasks, Erin Jensen, skincare expert and founder of Claremont-based The Treatment Skin Boutique has been providing skin care kits for local hospital workers. Packages include restorative masks for compromised facial skin and a patchology hand mask for cracked hands. Pomona Valley Hospital, San Antonio Regional Hospital and Hoag Hospital Newport Beach were among the hospitals to receive the kits. Jensen also gave away 1,000 treatment masks to healthcare workers across the country via Instagram. getthetreatment.com.
In an effort to support health care professionals on the frontlines SkinIntegra skincare, known for its “Rapid Crack Repair Cream” donated 2,000 samples to hospitals in Los Angeles, including UCLA Health, Torrance Memorial, Cedar-Sinai Marina del Rey, and more. “SkinIntegra wanted to do something to help health care professionals keep their hands free of cracks and irritation, which can lead to dangerous infections,” said Erika Tazberik, founder and president, SkinIntegra via press release. “We will make as much of our inventory available as we can to help these remarkable frontline workers.” Hospitals, healthcare facilities and nursing care places can apply for product donations at skinintegra.com/pages/donations.
Hydration for Health Care
The marketers behind Liquid I.V. claim it can hydrate you two to three times faster and more efficiently than water alone so the product, which follows the World Health Organization’s guidelines for an Oral Rehydration Solution, seems like a great fit for nurses and co-workers. CEO Brandin Cohen has thus far, donated over 200,000 servings of his products to frontline workers fighting COVID and hopes to get the word out to more hospitals and healthcare professionals. The company has also partnered with Meals on Wheels and L.A. Food Bank in hopes of helping hydrate the homeless and underprivileged. Cohen says his Hydration Multiplier” products can help keep medical workers alert and hydrated while they’re on duty, while his “Multiplier” line can help them to relax at night and get the rest they desperately need. Check out the brand at liquid-iv.com.
(Courtesy LA Face Shields)
Down With PPE
Los Angeles-based LA Face Shields, is a group of volunteers made up of out-of-work entertainment industry freelancers producing hundreds of face shields a day and distributing them to over 40 hospitals around Southern California. From his Hollywood home, prop-maker Rob West and friends build, sterilize and distribute up to 400 face shields per day. They also negotiate deals or donations from suppliers for the vinyl, elastic bands and foam needed to create them. The 100 percent donation driven is providing PPE to Southern California’s medical community for free. For more info and to donate to the project visit LAFaceShields.org.
There are even more local companies and manufacturers donating facemasks to medical workers in various capacities. Look for that list -which also features great designs for public purchase — here on the site soon.
A Cool Way to THINK About Health Care Workers
Napa Valley-based ice cream brand, Re:THINK, will be giving hospital workers and nurses over 50,000 of single-serve ice cream cups all over California in honor of National Nurses Week, including local medical facilities Inglewood, Culver City, Santa Monica, Glendale, Downtown, Huntington Park, Whittier, Norwalk, Torrance, Long Beach and many more, now through Thurs., May 7. rethinkicecream.us.
Feeding the Frontline
Big companies have been donating food to nurses and doctors regularly, such as Denny’s, Little Caesars, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, etc. (see our Food section for updates). Here, we highlight some decidedly grassroots initiatives as they aim to help two industries impeded by COVID-19 at once, bringing delicious meals to nurses and fellow medical pros in L.A. while also giving business to local restaurants.
(Courtesy Dine11)
Dine11 (pronounced Dine-One-One) was conceived and created Chris Sey, the husband of an L.A. ER doctor and actress Lola Glaudini. The pair sought help with strain on hospital workers and the struggles of restaurant industry at the same time by raising money to purchase meals from local Los Angeles restaurants, and give them to hospitals. Cafe 101, Bar Amá, Ostrich Farm, Little Dom’s, and more are part of the program. To donate or volunteer go to dine11.org/la.
Support+Feed provides support for Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia plant-based restaurants who are struggling during the pandemic. They feed groups greatly impacted by the crisis such as first responders, hospitals and senior centers. The initiative has received media attention thanks to the involvement of Billi Eilish’s mother, Maggie Baird, who is an advocate for veganism. supportandfeed.com.
World Central Kitchen, created by chef José Andrés, has been providing food for needy communities during disasters for 10 years now, but since the pandemic hit, he’s shifted focus to helping those impacted with #chefsforamerica, which provides daily meals to frontline healthcare professionals and brings business to restaurants across America. wck.org.
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