As the COVID-19 virus continues to send shockwaves through the U.S. economy, businesses are transforming their products and services to better serve their communities. By learning from these adaptations, we can not only improve the way we sustain business, but how we reimagine transformative strategies in the future.
Related Content: Read more about Mindsailing’s Resilient Futures Campaign — an effort focused on celebrating the changemakers who work tirelessly to help our communities and enable resilient futures for us all.
Minnesota distilleries make sanitizer from alcohol
In Northern Minnesota, Duluth’s Vikre Distillery has started making surface sanitizer with their equipment to help residents combat the spread of COVID-19. Even better, they are giving it away for free. The sanitizer has been used to clean the primary homeless shelter in the area and is available to anyone who makes the trip to the distillery. Likewise, Minneapolis’ own Norseman Distillery is donating all of theirs to EDs, nursing facilities, fire stations, homeless shelters, and other first responder organizations.
Arizona farm doubles as free daycare
Mother Nature’s Farm will be using all 47 of its acres to provide free childcare to local families. By orchestrating play and social distancing, the farm will take in up to 20 kids from kindergarten to fifth grade who otherwise may be left home alone while their parents are at work. The farm will continue with its daily operations while also offering adult supervision and safe, distant activities.
Exhibit rental company creates isolation spaces
Minneapolis-based company ExhibitMax has created a new branch of their business, Biomax Isolation Systems, to create safe, effective isolation spaces. The systems can be up and running in two weeks, giving overwhelmed hospitals a quick, low-overhead solution for expanding quarantine spaces as more patients need treatment.
Image Credit: BIOMAX from EXHIBITMAX
Grocery employees classified as emergency workers
With COVID-19’s infectious nature, most people are only leaving their homes for groceries. But for those in charge of distributing, stocking shelves and cashiering, staying home is not an option. In Minnesota and Vermont, the state governments have now classified grocery workers as emergency workers, which provides employees free childcare and other benefits.
Changing business today to address tomorrow’s needs
Other companies around the world are setting aside their regular business models and adapting to meet unexpected needs. To address supply shortages, Tesla, Ford and other auto companies are adjusting their factory lines to make ventilators, while General Motors is looking to create machines that will produce surgical masks. Likewise, LVHM, the same company that owns Louis Vuitton, is producing hand sanitizer and delivering it to French hospitals at no charge.
It is these types of transformations that will help our world continue functioning in the face of pandemic. And we encourage those who are reimagining what success looks like in these unusual times to take inspiration from civic engagement and the possibility it holds.
Related Content: Learn how creating a regenerative work environment at home depends on personal connections.
We’re committed to supporting positive transformation.
Read more about Mindsailing’s response to recent events.