During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous companies and organizations stepped forward to provide support and resources for healthcare workers on the front lines. These initiatives ranged from physical products like footwear and apparel to digital services, including fitness apps, mental health support, and professional training courses. The availability of these offers was largely concentrated around the height of the pandemic, with many programs launched in 2020. This article details the types of freebies and perks that were made available to healthcare professionals, based on information from verified reports and official announcements during that period.
The support initiatives were designed to address various needs, from physical comfort and safety to mental well-being and professional development. Companies in the footwear, apparel, and digital technology sectors were among the most active contributors. The following sections categorize these offerings to provide a clear overview of the resources that were accessible to nurses, physicians, and other essential healthcare personnel.
Footwear and Apparel Offerings
Comfortable and durable footwear is a critical requirement for healthcare workers, especially those working extended hours during a health crisis. Recognizing this, several shoe manufacturers launched donation programs specifically for medical personnel.
- Crocs: The company initiated a "Sharing A Free Pair For Healthcare" program. Through this campaign, Crocs donated over 860,000 pairs of shoes to healthcare workers globally. Eligible workers could claim a free pair of shoes with free shipping directly through the company's dedicated program page.
- Nike: In collaboration with the nonprofit Good360, Nike donated 30,000 pairs of its Air Zoom Pulse sneakers. These donations were directed to health systems and hospitals in major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, and New York City, as well as within the Veterans Health Administration. Separately, Nike also offered free premium access to its suite of apps, including the Nike app, Nike Running Club (NRC), and Nike Training Club (NTC), under its "Play Inside, Play for the World" initiative.
- Barco Uniforms: A leader in the medical apparel industry, Barco Uniforms committed to donating scrubs to medical professionals on the front lines for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. A request submission form was made available on their website for this purpose.
- Clove: This footwear brand included free compression socks with every purchase of its shoes. To redeem the offer, customers had to add a pair of socks to their cart and apply a specific discount code at checkout.
- Ably Apparel: For first responders, Ably Apparel offered a free item from their website. The process involved tagging oneself on the company's Instagram page starting from April 8, 2020.
- Tieks by Gavrieli: This shoe brand launched a campaign encouraging customers to sew masks for front-line heroes. Participants who sewed 25 masks could receive a $50 Tieks gift card, while those sewing 50 or more masks were eligible for a $100 gift card.
- Kerusso: The company offered a 10% discount on all items in its store to first responders as a gesture of gratitude.
Digital Wellness and Mental Health Support
The immense stress associated with the pandemic prompted a wave of support from the digital wellness and mental health sectors, with many companies offering free access to their platforms.
Fitness and Meditation Apps:
- Ten Percent Happier: This meditation app provided free access to healthcare, grocery, and food delivery workers. Eligible individuals were required to fill out a form on the company's website to activate the offer.
- Supporti: An accountability partner app, Supporti offered healthcare workers a one-month free subscription. Interested users were instructed to contact the company via email to receive a special code.
- Speeko: Nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals could receive free access to this communication coaching app through the end of 2020 by filling out a form on the Speeko website.
- TB12: Tom Brady’s fitness brand offered a free virtual performance and recovery coaching session with a TB12 Body Coach to any healthcare member fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Booking instructions were provided on their website.
Online Support Groups:
- Coaching Services: Trained facilitators, including coaches, counselors, social workers, and support group leaders, were available to lead online support groups for healthcare workers. Information on how to join these groups was made available through dedicated links.
Professional Training and Certification Courses
To support healthcare professionals in their critical work, several organizations offered free training and certification programs focused on COVID-19 care and safety.
- American Nurses Association (ANA): The ANA provided a free training course titled "Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients during this COVID-19 Pandemic."
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN): This organization offered a free online course, "Pulmonary, ARDS, and Ventilator Resources," available 24/7. The course provided the latest information needed to care for patients with COVID-19.
- IntelyCare: A workforce management solution for post-acute facilities, IntelyCare launched a free COVID-19 training certification program.
- Osmosis: This educational platform developed several free resources, including:
- A free COVID-19 course for health professionals, which was eligible for 2 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits.
- Free clinical skill videos on topics such as imaging features and body temperature assessment.
- Free virtual events, including meditation and yoga sessions, as well as Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with their Chief Medical Officer.
Other Perks and Resources
Beyond footwear, wellness, and training, a few other specific perks were identified in the source material.
- Clove: In addition to footwear, the brand offered a grant program. Applicants could apply for the COVID-19 grant via a link on the company's webpage.
- Healthcare Heroes Merchandise: The Jim Coleman store created a line of merchandise, including shirts and water bottles, specifically for healthcare heroes, which were available for purchase.
Conclusion
The response from the corporate and organizational sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a diverse range of support for healthcare workers. From essential items like shoes and scrubs to valuable digital resources for mental and physical health, as well as critical professional training, these initiatives aimed to alleviate some of the immense pressure faced by medical personnel. While many of these specific, time-sensitive offers were launched in 2020, they represent a significant effort to support front-line workers during an unprecedented global health crisis.