Multiple organizations and companies have established programs offering complimentary products, services, and discounts to healthcare workers as a gesture of appreciation for their service, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. These offers span various categories, including food and beverage, mental health support, transportation, housing, and professional supplies. Access to these perks typically requires verification of employment through a healthcare employee ID, NPI number, or other professional credentials.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several national food and beverage chains have provided free meals and treats to healthcare personnel. UberEats announced a program to provide free meals and rides to first responders and healthcare workers in the United States and Canada. This initiative was coordinated with local, state, and provincial governments. Interested officials and organizations were directed to contact Uber at [email protected] to establish partnerships.
Krispy Kreme launched a specific appreciation campaign for healthcare workers. The company offered free dozens of Original Glazed doughnuts starting on March 30, with the offer continuing on every subsequent Monday through National Nurses Week (May 6-12). Starbucks also participated in appreciation efforts, offering tall brewed or iced coffee to police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and researchers. This specific Starbucks offer was valid until May 3.
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
Recognizing the psychological toll of frontline work, various digital health platforms and coaching services offered free access to their content. Talkspace, a digital behavior health leader, donated 1,000 months of free online therapy to healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19. Medical professionals could receive one free month of the Unlimited Messaging Plus plan, which includes text, audio, and video calls with a licensed therapist. To access this, professionals were instructed to download the app and register or provide their National Provider Identifier (NPI).
Simple Habit offered free premium memberships to individuals financially impacted by the pandemic. Their memberships, typically priced at $89.99 per year, provide access to over 150 meditation teachers, therapists, and coaches, along with 2,500 guided meditations. Eligible individuals could email Simple Habit at [email protected] to request a free membership.
Other mental health resources included: * Smiling Mind: Offered a FREE Healthcare Worker Program. * Ten Percent Happier: Provided free access to meditation and mindfulness app content for healthcare workers. * Therapy International: Offered free online therapy sessions to medical workers and first responders. * UCF RESTORES: Provided free, one-on-one telehealth counseling sessions to frontline workers. Appointments could be made by calling the UCF RESTORES Hotline at 407-823-1657, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. * Francie Perkins Coaching: Offered a free 30-minute life coaching session to frontline nurses, radiology technologists, and respiratory therapists.
Transportation and Auto Services
Discounts on vehicle rentals and maintenance services were available for healthcare workers and first responders. Budget Rentals, Enterprise Rentals, and National Rentals all offered a 25% discount.
For vehicle maintenance, NTB and Tire Kingdom offered specific discounts for healthcare workers who presented their identification. These included: * Conventional oil changes for $18.99 (plus a $18.99 disposal fee at NTB and a $18.99 price at Tire Kingdom). * $20 savings on High-Mileage, Synthetic Blend, or Full Synthetic Oil Changes (NTB). * 20% off services (NTB and Tire Kingdom). * 10% off tires (NTB and Tire Kingdom).
Housing and Lodging
Various hotel chains and housing providers offered temporary lodging or discounts for frontline workers. Radisson Hotels provided a 20% discount and an upgraded room at check-in (when available) to police, firefighters, doctors, and nurses at select hotels in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The initiative "hospitalityhelps" connected healthcare and government agencies with lodging providers ready to offer temporary housing. Le Bijou offered free stays for healthcare workers, allowing them to recover in apartments equipped with in-room SPAs. This offer was valid "until the crisis is over." Marriott Hotel participated in the "Rooms for Responders" program, providing free rooms in heavily impacted areas including New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Newark, N.J.
Retail, Shopping, and Professional Supplies
Retailers and service providers offered memberships, discounts, and donated supplies to healthcare workers.
Membership and Shopping Access: * BJ’s Wholesale Club: Starting April 19, healthcare workers and first responders could shop every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. without a membership. Additionally, BJ’s offered a free 4-month membership to these individuals upon showing a badge or ID. * Care.com: Frontline healthcare workers could receive a free month of premium access to Care.com services to find help with children, elderly parents, or pets. This included unlimited messaging with caregivers.
Donations and Supplies: * Careismatic Brands: This supplier of scrubs donated $1 million in Cherokee and Dickies scrubs to hospitals for frontline workers. Hospital executives could request donations by emailing [email protected] with hospital details and quantity requests. * ChiliPAD: U.S.-based healthcare professionals and first responders could receive a new or refurbished chiliPAD (a temperature-controlled mattress pad). This offer was valid through May 31, while supplies lasted. * Citi Bikes: A free 30-day membership was available to those working the frontlines in New York City. * Preppi: Donated N95 masks to healthcare workers in need. * DHAVNI: Offered free masks upon request. * Print For the Cure: Provided face shields, mask straps, and door openers. * FJOLK: Offered free pairs of shoes. Interested parties were instructed to email [email protected].
Discounts and Certifications: * Nursemates: Allowed sign-up for a 15% discount on purchases, including masks. * LinkBuildingHQ: Offered a 15% discount on marketing services for frontline workers using the coupon code "Covid15-LBUS." * Intelycare: Offered a 100% free COVID-19 Nurse Training Certification for nursing professionals, which included one free contact hour upon completion. * Orbit CME: Provided a $100 credit.
Professional Education: * American Nurses Association (ANA): Offered a free 68-minute webinar for Registered Nurses titled "Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients During this COVID-19 Pandemic."
General Resources and Information Aggregators
Several websites maintained comprehensive lists of available perks and freebies for healthcare workers. The Average Socialite website was noted for publishing an ongoing list of such perks. Additionally, the SHARE blog and Thrillist were cited as sources that collected lists of nationwide chains offering free food and other resources for healthcare workers. These aggregators serve as central hubs for workers seeking to identify current offers.
Conclusion
The provided documentation indicates a broad network of support for healthcare workers, manifested through free products, service discounts, and professional development opportunities. While many offers are explicitly tied to the COVID-19 pandemic response, others represent ongoing appreciation programs. Verification of professional status is a common requirement across most programs, and availability may be subject to specific geographic or inventory limitations. Consumers are advised to consult the specific brand or organization websites for the most current terms and availability.