COMPANY DONATES MONEY TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services has been giving families they help gift cards so they can buy food, put gas in their cars or whatever they need during the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo courtesy of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services.
Marillac St. Vincent Family Services has been giving families they help gift cards so they can buy food, put gas in their cars or whatever they need during the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo courtesy of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services.

Company donates money to non-profit organizations

BY TIA CAROL JONES

During COVID-19, businesses are showing up to give back to non-profits. MadeGood is one of those companies donating to non-profits whose services are helping people get through this time.

MadeGood recently has pledged to donate $100,000 to Marillac St. Vincent and IGrow Chicago for them to continue the work they have been doing to help Chicagoans.

Managers of both organizations say the numbers of people they are helping have increased during COVID-19 and the money is very much appreciated.

Riverside Natural Foods is a privately-owned company based in Ontario, Canada, and owned by three siblings. The company owns MadeGood Foods, which includes snacks that are vegan, gluten-free and free from some of the most common allergens.

Janice Harada is the corporate social responsibility manager with Riverside Natural Foods. Harada said when the company started seven years ago, they established that they would give one percent of their revenue from MadeGood back to the community.

“When COVID hit, we sort of sat down and said, ‘look, this is going to have devastating results for people who live paycheck to paycheck,’ “ she said. “So, we wanted to target those people who find themselves in a desperate situation and who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs, or their companies have gone out of business and they need immediate short-term help.”

Harada said the company chose Chicago because it has a warehouse and an office here. And, two organizations Marillac St. Vincent and IGrow Chicago were recommended because of the work both already do to help.

“We’re putting the money into the community where’s it’s most needed. So that really spoke to us,” she said. “Putting emergency money and food right into people’s hands, right in the hardest hit communities.”

Harada said the organizations are getting the money monthly. In a few months, the company will look at what the organizations might need in the future, as well as where the company is financially.

The money that they’ve given will go directly to funding more emergency cash for families who are out of work so those families can either buy food, medicine or maybe put gas in their car, she said. Zelda Mayer, director of development for IGrow Chicago, said the organization is grateful for the support. So far, the organization has received $30,000 from MadeGood.

“We’re completely running an operation to support 25 blocks during the coronavirus with daily calls to about 200 people to check-in in the Englewood neighborhood,” she said.

Mayer said IGrow also is doing daily tutoring for kids and creating care packages, as well as 1000 flyers a week with updates on COVID-19 and safety tips and resources. Mayer said it is taking a lot of resources to make it happen.

“One of the amazing things about receiving donations is it makes us feel like we’re not alone in this work. And, it’s a solidarity that helps us not just fund the work that we’re doing, which does take real money and resources and time, but it also emotionally helps us feel connected while we’re apart,” she said. “Right now, a big way that people can show up is through donations.”

Mayer said the money will go a long way. In the last couple of weeks, the number of calls the organization has received for help has increased.

“We’re seeing, just as this virus is growing exponentially, in the United States, the need that we’re getting of people asking us for help is growing alongside it,” she said. “We are working our hardest to keep up with the need and to be providing life-saving supplies, food, soap, basic household goods, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, education, tutoring. These are real things that save real lives.”

Peter Beale-Vecchio, chief executive officer of Marrilac St. Vincent Family Services, said it feels incredible to receive the money from MadeGood.

“It’s wonderfully reaffirming when others see the need you see and the need you’re meeting in the community,” he said. “The reality is our mission is really about being transformational, strengthening, and giving voice to those in need. And, you know, gifts like this can be transformational in that way.”

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services created its own COVID relief fund. And, the family support team continues to reach out to the families to find out what their needs are during this time. It serves 600 children in its early childhood education and youth services programs.

“To step in for those families who really don’t know what the next step is. It’s going to be a really scary time for them and we’re able to bring some peace of mind for them,” he said. “We may not be able to pay every bill that is coming their way, but they know they’ll eat and the basics, they know [what] they’ll have help with. That’s the kind of real work gifts like this help us to do.”

Harada put out a call to other businesses, to appeal to them to be more generous than usual during this unusual time.

“I mean there are a lot of businesses, they’re really hard hit by this, but there’s also a lot of businesses that are up and running, and stand to do quite well,” she said. “If you’re up and running and you’re still making money, consider giving back to the community because the government’s only going to do so much and this is going to be a long recovery for a lot of people.”

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