Employees from Bridgestone Americas Technical Center in Akron made face shields for Ohio health-care workers.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Bridgestone Americas employees are making facemasks.
The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) is raising money for charity.
Tire Kingdom stores in Florida bought lunch for their local police department.
Throughout the tire industry, many businesses, organizations and individuals are going out of their way for the betterment of their communities during the coronavirus pandemic:
The article appears in the May 11, 2020 edition of Tire Business. Read the digital edition here.
Bridgestone is using resources at its Americas Technical Center in Akron to secure personal protective equipment for local Ohio hospitals.
Employees at the technical center are using the company's prototyping technology, Bridgestone said, and their personal 3D printers to produce reusable face shields that are being donated to local hospitals and front-line workers in Northeast Ohio.
Such shields cover a larger portion of the face than masks alone, Bridgestone said, and are made from plastic and other materials that allow for cleaning and reuse.
"Our most important priority is always the safety and well-being of our teammates, customers, fans and communities — and we're focused on that now more than ever," Lisa Boggs, director of motorsports, Bridgestone Americas, told Indycar.com, the website of IndyCar racing.
Bridgestone Retail also has pledged to donate $840,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country to support the non-profit's COVID-19 relief efforts.
In an effort to help its distributors help their customers, tire wholesaler/private brander Omni United (S) Pte. Ltd. is compiling resource guides of COVID-19-related government agency resources for the countries where it operates.
The Singapore-based company — represented in the U.S. by Omni United USA in Charle -voix, Mich. — is offering this resource under a "We are in this together" banner, which Chairman GS Sareen said reflects his company's core value of giving back to society.
In addition, Omni United is donating protective masks to its patrons and business partners for them to use and distribute in their local communities.
"Right now, more than ever, it is important that we all realize that we are one people, one world, we are all in this together," Mr. Sareen said. "A virus has no nationality, and it does not discriminate, affecting many independently of their skin color, gender, age and nationality. It is time we fight this menace as one society and one human race."
Founded in Singapore in 2003 by Mr. Sareen, Omni distributes a broad portfolio of brands — including its own Radar, Patriot, American Tourer and Tecnica brands — in 90 countries.
YANG, a community of the Auto Care Association, is organizing a grassroots campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic to solicit funds, $19 at a time, for the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF).
The campaign, #YANGgive19 Challenge, encourages those associated with the auto aftermarket who are able to support the AACF — which assists individuals and families of the automotive aftermarket affected by life-changing incidents — during the pandemic.
Those donating are encouraged to post a photo with the hashtag #YANGgive19 on any social media outlets in support of the cause and to challenge others to participate.
"We are hoping it catches on," Jacki Lutz, head of global marketing and communications, aftermarket business, Sensata Technologies Inc., said, noting the symbolism of a $19 donation for COVID-19 relief.
The AACF is the only charity of its kind that focuses only on individuals employed in the automotive aftermarket and their families.
YANG is a community of under-40 auto care industry professionals.
Martins Industries donated face masks to the Farnham, Quebec, community, where the company is located.
Martins Industries Inc. donated 5,000 safety masks to the city of Farnham, Quebec, where its head office is located, for distribution to municipal employees as well as to organizations that provide essential services to citizens in surrounding areas.
"When events like these happen, you just want to make sure as a company that you do your part as a member of your community," Martin Depelteau, president of the manufacturer of tire equipment to store, handle, inflate and display tires and wheels, said.
"The workers who are still out there on the front line to provide essential services so that we can still function as a society are the real warriors here. The least we can do is to support them in every way we can, and we are hoping that these masks are going to make them feel safer."
Employees at a Tire Kingdom Service Centers location in Palm Beach, Fla., went out of their way to buy lunch for the West Palm Beach Police Department.
The group heard about a deal at sandwich shop Jimmy John's where for every sandwich purchased, the business would donate a sandwich. The employees of Tire Kingdom bought $250 in sandwiches and delivered them to the police department.
The act of kindness is part of TBC Corp.'s national "Driven to Give" initiative. TBC is the parent company of Tire Kingdom, NTB Tire & Service Centers, Midas and Big O Tires.
"In these difficult and stressful times, we want to say, 'Thank You' to all first responders and members of essential business working tirelessly to keep our communities safe," said Erik R. Olsen, president and CEO of TBC. "The generous spirit of our local retail community allows us to support organizations and individuals who have a strong desire to leave everything better in the community."
Tire Kingdom also extended discounts to all first responders, health care workers and employees of essential businesses.
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