Facilisgroup (PPAI 493664), a company that provides a software-as-a-service-based (SaaS) platform for promotional products distributors, has documented the many ways its partners have stepped up to support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our partners have displayed not only resiliency and determination in business during this challenging time but have truly shown how much they value helping others and contributing to their communities,” says President Ashley McCune.

Many Facilisgroup partners have made financial contributions to community organizations and charities continuing to work throughout the pandemic. During May and June, DG3 donated more than $30,000 from qualified orders to Community Food Bank of New Jersey and Food Bank for New York City through their DG3 Cares initiative. These donations provided more than 150,000 meals for those in need. Artina Promotional Products provided 90 meals to Family Promise of Delaware County, the recipient of Artina's inaugural Choose Kind designation and grant. Family Promise focuses on building community and strengthening lives through various initiatives. Jeckil Promotions donated a portion of all April sales to the Giving Kitchen, an organization that provides emergency assistance to workers in the food service industry. A total of $7,500 was donated to those in need, thanks to Jeckil and their clients. Jeckil also contributed to the fight for racial equality during this time through a donation to the ACLU. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve individual rights and liberties.

Some partners have shown appreciation for essential workers through meal donations. AP Branded Solutions has an ongoing relationship with The Joe Beretta Foundation, which provided meals to doctors and nurses in a cardiac care wing at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland, Pennsylvania. Jeckil Promotions dropped off 150 packed lunches from Henri’s Bakery to Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, this spring as a thank-you to the health-care workers keeping communities safe.

Several partners found a way to combine selling promo products and giving back. The Identity Source set up an online store, PPE 4 Good, to showcase the masks they have for sale. The proceeds from this site benefit first responders. Impression Edge also created an online store for their Mask Warrior project in collaboration with Livestrong, an organization that strives to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. For every cloth mask sold, Impression Edge donates $1 to Livestrong. Gorilla Marketing increased awareness of social distancing protocols through their ‘Practice Safe 6’ t-shirt campaign. Each ‘Practice Safe 6’ shirt sold through Hit Promotional Products resulted in a $1 donation by Hit to Catholic Charities USA, aiding impoverished U.S. communities. Brand Blvd. realized that several of their clients, who rely on fundraising, would be heavily impacted by COVID-19. They created the BB Cares - Wearing is Caring t-shirt campaign where they were able to raise $10,000 for Community Care, The Niagara Health Foundation, a local rehabilitation center and a women’s domestic violence shelter. This month, Perfect Promotions is running a give-back campaign of their own. For every t-shirt order placed, the company will donate $10 to Alex's Lemonade Stand, a foundation fighting childhood cancer.

Using their resources, many partners also provided PPE to clients, frontline workers and their communities. Full Line Specialties sent out care packages to their clients, as well as vendors, in the spirit of retaining strong relationships and preparing their community for the pandemic. The totes contained masks, first-aid kits, water bottles, hand sanitizer and more. Booker Promotions kept client safety high on their priority list by purchasing disposable masks and hand sanitizer and sending enough supplies to clients to cover themselves and their immediate family members. Booker also donated 500 masks and 400 bottles of hand sanitizer to PruittHealth, a long-term health-care provider with more than 90 locations across the Southeast. Full Line Specialties accepted non-perishable food items in exchange for a Full Line-branded cloth mask, allowing employees to stay busy making masks and giving Food Banks Canada much-needed donations. You Name It Specialties partnered with its main contract decorator to print and donate several hundred t-shirts and masks to staff at Meals on Wheels in San Antonio, Texas. Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals to seniors while combatting social isolation.

Partners have also donated traditional promo products to show appreciation and give to those in need. Eskimo Joe's Promotional Products Group received "Thank You For Your Service" decorated tumblers from Hirsch Gifts to pass along to frontline workers. EJPPG chose to thank its local postal carriers for all the work they've been doing throughout the pandemic by leaving the tumblers in mailboxes as a surprise gift. Impression Edge donated 27 boxes filled with everything from backpacks, tote bags, water bottles and more, totaling $8,000 to BIG Love Cancer Care. The items will go in their Boxes of BIG Love and New Diagnosis Baskets directly benefitting pediatric cancer patients and their families. Earlier this month, Partners Promotional Group came together to clear out their showroom of sample apparel to be donated to several shelters across Toronto.

Partners have even stepped up to help each other out during this uncertain time. Gorilla Marketing worked with approximately a dozen other partners committed to supplying and fulfilling both disposable and cloth mask orders using their resources and providing advice on setting up stores. Captiv8 offered to sell 25,000 units of their hand sanitizer supply to other partners who were having trouble locating a reliable source to meet high demand.