A variety of free products, discounted services, and special programs have been made available to healthcare workers and first responders. These offers span multiple categories, including food, professional supplies, personal care, and household goods. Availability often depends on verifying professional status through services like ID.me, showing proof of employment such as an ID badge, or nominating a qualified individual. Many of these programs are time-sensitive or subject to supply limitations.
Food and Meal Offers
Several food and beverage companies have provided complimentary meals and snacks to show appreciation for healthcare personnel.
- Pho Ca Dao & Grill: This restaurant chain offered free meals to on-duty first responders at their locations. The offer was limited to the first 50 first responders per day and was available between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. through April 16.
- McDonald’s: The fast-food chain announced a "Thank You Meals" program for healthcare workers and first responders from April 22 through May 5. To redeem, individuals needed to show proof of employment, such as an ID or badge. In some regions, a separate offer provided a free breakfast consisting of a small coffee and an Egg McMuffin sandwich to healthcare workers, police officers, and firefighters with valid identification or a uniform. This regional offer was available in Southern California counties, including San Diego.
- Dunkin’ Donuts: On May 6, which is National Nurses Day, Dunkin’ Donuts provided a free medium hot or iced coffee and a free donut to all healthcare workers. No purchase was necessary to receive this offer.
- El Pollo Loco: This restaurant offered free limited edition e-gift cards to nurses. To be considered, individuals were asked to tag a nurse in the comments of a specific post on El Pollo Loco’s Instagram page during National Nurses Week (May 6-12).
- Jamba: Through their "Whirl’d of Good" initiative, Jamba honored essential worker heroes, including healthcare professionals. Individuals could nominate a hero on the company’s webpage to receive a free smoothie, which was available while supplies lasted through May 13.
- San Diego Dining Group: This group, which includes establishments like Greystone the Steakhouse, Saltwater, and Farmers Table, fed healthcare workers and first responders for free using community kitchens during the pandemic. A GoFundMe campaign was started to support this service.
- DoorDash: Partnering with hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, DoorDash offered 60 days of free Corporate DashPass to nurses, doctors, and hospital employees. This benefit included $0 delivery and reduced service fees from participating restaurants, with safe delivery options to the hospital. Interested individuals could sign up with their work email address for a representative to follow up.
- Fitcrunch Care Package: A nomination program allowed individuals to nominate a "best friend at work" to receive a care package from Fitcrunch. The package included a Fitcrunch bar, antibacterial wipes, and an uplifting note.
- Pieology: A promotion allowed individuals to nominate an "everyday hero" to win a Pieology care pack, which included cheese bread, pizzas, and dessert, along with $250. Nominations were submitted by sharing the hero's impact on the community on Pieology’s Instagram or Facebook page, tagging @pieology, and using the hashtag #everydayhero. Fifteen grand prize winners were to be selected.
- Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken: This restaurant offered free meals to workers with a valid hospital ID. The free meal included a 1/4 chicken with chips and had to be redeemed by phone order, as it was not valid for delivery or online ordering. The offer was limited to one meal per day while supplies lasted.
- Pizza vs. Pandemic: This initiative donated pizzas to hospitals, clinics, and shelters.
Retail, Apparel, and Accessories
Discounts and free items are also available in the retail sector, particularly for footwear and work-related accessories.
- Crocs: In addition to an ongoing discount for nurses and healthcare professionals, Crocs holds a "Free Pair for Healthcare" program during Nurses Week. Through this program, they give away free shoes, socks, and other items for an entire facility.
- Good Feet Store: This store offers Nurses Week freebies such as free socks or slip-on shoes.
- NurseMates.com and AlignShoe.com: These retailers offer a 25% discount.
- General Shoe Discounts: Nurses and healthcare professionals can receive discounts ranging from 10% to 30% off brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, and Skechers.
- Eko: To celebrate the "Heartbeat of Healthcare," Eko offers specials throughout May. These include a free case with certain purchases and a discount on one of its most popular stethoscopes.
- Kizik Shoes: Kizik Shoes donated 1,000 free pairs of hands-free shoes to nurses and doctors fighting COVID-19. To request a free pair, a form on their webpage had to be filled out before April 24 at 11:59 p.m. MT, with selected recipients contacted by May 1.
- Knack: This company ran a nomination program for Nurses Week where individuals could nominate a favorite nurse to win a Knack Pack. A winner was chosen each day.
Health, Household, and Personal Goods
A wide range of brands offer discounts on health, beauty, and household items to verified healthcare professionals.
- Verification Method: Many brands require eligibility verification through ID.me or by contacting customer support directly.
- Discounted Brands: The following brands have offered discounts for healthcare workers and nurses:
- OXO: 20% off for healthcare workers.
- Priority Tire: $1,425 off any mattress for healthcare professionals.
- Puffy: 10% off for healthcare professionals.
- Purple: $225 off a $1,000+ purchase for nurses.
- Saatva: 60% off club membership for nurses and healthcare workers.
- Sam’s Club: 20% off for medical professionals.
- Spalding: 20% off for medical providers.
- Stanley: 20% off for nurses and medical professionals.
- The Bouqs: 70% off the first box for nurses.
- The Farmer’s Dog: 15% off for nurses and medical providers.
- The Happy Planner: A free one-year membership for nurses.
- Thrive Market: 15% off for healthcare professionals.
- Tuft & Needle: Up to 20% off for nurses and medical providers.
- TurboTax: Exclusive discounts for nurses and medical providers.
- YETI: 10% off for nurses and medical providers.
- Zinus: Discounts for health and beauty categories.
- Brooklyn Bedding: Offers everyday discounts on home essentials.
- Verizon, Samsung, and AT&T: Offer discounts on communications essentials.
Professional and Service-Based Offers
Several organizations have provided services, training, and equipment to support healthcare workers.
- Intelycare: This organization offered a 100% free COVID-19 Nurse Training Certification for nursing professionals. Upon completion, participants also received one free contact hour.
- Care.com: Frontline healthcare workers could receive a free month of premium access to Care.com services. This provided unlimited messaging with caregivers for help with children, elderly parents, and pets.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club: BJ’s offered a free 4-month membership to healthcare workers and first responders. To receive this, a badge or ID had to be shown. Additionally, these individuals could shop every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. without a membership.
- Citi Bikes: A free 30-day membership was available to those working on the frontlines in New York City.
- Hertz Cars: Hertz offered a free rental car for an entire month to those working in New York City. Applicants needed to apply on the Hertz website.
- ChiliPAD: U.S.-based healthcare professionals and first responders could receive a new or refurbished chiliPAD, a temperature-controlled mattress pad. This offer was available through May 31, while supplies lasted.
- Masks by Decor8 Interiors: Decor8 Interiors Management offered free masks to the healthcare industry. Due to overwhelming demand, the shipping date for these free masks was approximately nine weeks out from the date of the request.
- Careismatic Brands: As a major supplier of scrubs, Careismatic Brands donated $1 million in Cherokee and Dickies scrubs to hospitals. Hospital executives could request a donation by emailing a specific address with the hospital name, contact information, delivery address, and quantity and size requirements for women’s, men’s, and unisex scrubs.
Other Offers and Donations
- Sharp Healthcare, UC San Diego Health, and Scripps Health: These healthcare systems in the San Diego area facilitated donations for masks and protective gear for their workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Conclusion
Healthcare workers and first responders have access to a diverse array of freebies, discounts, and supportive services from various companies and organizations. These offerings, which include free meals, professional gear, retail discounts, and specialized services, are often available through verification of employment status or nomination processes. Many of these programs are time-sensitive or have specific eligibility requirements, so interested individuals should check the details and availability of each offer directly.