Freebies and Discounts for Healthcare Workers During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of frontline healthcare workers, prompting numerous companies and organizations to express gratitude through various offers. These initiatives ranged from free products and services to significant discounts and educational resources. The availability and terms of these offers were primarily documented during the height of the pandemic in 2020, with some updates extending into 2021. The following summary details specific freebies and discounts identified in the provided source materials, categorized by type and provider.

Food and Beverage Offers

Several food and beverage companies provided complimentary items to healthcare workers as a gesture of appreciation.

Sheetz: This convenience store chain offered a free extra kick of coffee to nurses and first responders. This offer was available through June 1, 2020, at locations across the country. Eligibility required identification as a hospital worker, police officer, firefighter, or paramedic.
Starbucks: The coffee giant provided free coffee to customers who identified as front line workers in the COVID-19 outbreak.
Snickers: Coupons for free Snickers bars were available for essential workers. These coupons could be validated at Walmart. Customers could visit sendasnickersfromhome.com to send a coupon to an essential worker.
Krispy Kreme: The donut chain offered two boxes of glazed donuts free to health care workers every Monday. This offer began on March 30 and extended through May 12. Qualification required showing a badge.

Apparel and Footwear

Companies in the apparel and footwear sectors donated items ranging from shoes to scrubs and socks.

Crocs: Crocs donated a free pair of shoes, including free shipping, to healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19.
Barco Uniforms: Barco Uniforms, a leader in medical apparel, donated scrubs to medical professionals on the frontlines for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Clove: Clove included free compression socks with every shoe purchase. To receive the socks, buyers had to add a pair of socks to a cart containing shoes and use the code WITHLOVE for the discount to apply.
Ably Apparel: First responders could tag themselves on Ably's Instagram page starting April 8th, and the company would send a free item from their website.
Kerusso: First responders received a 10% discount on anything in the Kerusso store.
Tieks by Gavrieli: Tieks launched the #SewTOGETHER Challenge, offering a $50 Tieks Gift card to anyone who sews 25 masks and a $100 Gift Card for those who sew 50 or more masks.
Fabled: A women’s medical apparel brand, Fabled offered a discount for The Frugal Physician readers.
Nursemates: Nursemates offered a 15% discount on purchases, including masks, upon sign-up.

Health and Wellness Products

Offers in this category included personal protective equipment (PPE) and wellness items.

DHAVNI: A free mask was available from DHAVNI.
Preppi: Preppi was donating N95 masks to healthcare workers in need.
Verb: Healthcare workers in all 50 states could text 415-915-8372 to get free Verb Bars delivered to their door.
FJOLK: Healthcare workers could email [email protected] to receive a free pair of shoes from the FJOLK community.

Training and Educational Resources

Several organizations provided free training and certification programs to support healthcare professionals during the pandemic.

IntelyCare: IntelyCare offered a 100% free COVID-19 Nurse Training Certification for nursing professionals. Upon completion, participants received one free contact hour.
American Nurses Association (ANA): The ANA offered a free 68-minute webinar for RNs titled “Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients During this COVID-19 Pandemic.”
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: This organization provided a free online course, "Pulmonary, ARDS, and Ventilator Resources," available 24/7.
Osmosis: Osmosis offered a free COVID-19 course for health professionals, eligible for 2 CME credits, along with free clinical skill videos and events.

Professional Services and Financial Offers

Discounts and complimentary services extended beyond physical products to include professional support.

Talkspace: A free month of therapy was available for doctors, nurses, social workers, and front line workers. Access required registering with an NPI and/or work badge after downloading the Talkspace app.
Accruent Advisors: This firm offered a complimentary 30-minute session with a financial advisor to anyone working in the medical field in the Winston-Salem area.
Orbit CME: A $100 credit for Orbit CME was available.
LinkBuildingHQ: A 15% discount on marketing services was offered for frontline workers using the coupon code Covid15-LBUS.

Other Offers and Initiatives

Additional miscellaneous offers and programs were also identified.

Print For the Cure: This organization provided face shields, mask straps, and door openers.
Healthcare Heroes (Jim Coleman store): The store offered shirts and water bottles for sale, specifically designed for healthcare heroes.

Conclusion

The source materials document a wide array of freebies and discounts offered to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These offers spanned food, apparel, health products, educational resources, and professional services. The availability of these offers was often time-sensitive, with many specifically tied to the pandemic period in 2020 and 2021. Eligibility typically required proof of status as a healthcare worker, first responder, or frontline employee.