Businesses throughout the United States are being forced to rethink their operations in light of the COVID-19 virus. In the midst of this chaotic time, some organizations in Lenawee County have joined the efforts to battle this pandemic by transforming their production capabilities. Others have volunteered, donated, and supported our local human services, emergency responders, health care workers, and businesses.
We reached out to our business network and asked them to share their stories of how they are contributing to this fight.
Manufacturing Sanitizer
Tasting Rooms were one of the first victims of the alarming pandemic when concerns were growing quickly about the ability to keep people safe in public environments. Breweries and distilleries throughout the world recognized an opportunity and quickly transformed their equipment to make liquid sanitizer to help fill the demand for supply from hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, food pantries, and first responders.
Two local establishments, Cotton Brewing Company and Alévri Mill Distilling Company, along with global manufacturing company, Wacker Chemical, modified their production facilities to produce this heavily sought-after product.
Source: Cotton Brewing and Alévri Mill Distilling Company Facebook Pages
Supporting Local Food Needs
Marks Trading Company, a local e-commerce company that normally offers spices, herbs, and salts, was approached by a local grocery store that was having difficulty securing yeast from their normal suppliers. Certain food products were in high demand at the time, and grocery stores throughout Michigan and most of the Midwest were unable to acquire packaged yeast.
“Yeast was not a product we currently package, but we have all of the basics materials to do so,” said Jay Marks, co-owner of Marks Trading Company. “Three hours later and after several calls to bulk suppliers, we were able to acquire yeast to package.”
To date, they have sold 3,000 packages to a local grocery store chain and have an order for another 1,600 pending.
Habitat for Humanity is also answering a need for food in the east Adrian community. Their team partnered with a church to use their new office space on East Maumee Street as food packing and distribution location.
“The food comes from the Food Bank and other sources and is packaged and delivered to the homes,” said Lynne Punnett, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity. “We don’t want to claim credit for the program itself, but we are providing the space because it’s what we have and what we can do.”
Source: Habitat For Humanity of Lenawee County
Donors Step Up in Challenging Times
Personal Protective Equipment and food are some of the biggest local needs that have developed during the Coronavirus pandemic. N95 masks, safety goggles and glasses, bottles of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, boxes of latex and nitrile gloves, and safety suits were donated to the County Emergency Operations Center as well as local health care providers by Anderson Development, Comstar, Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County, Krieghoff-Lenawee, and Wacker Chemical.
Local organizations, including the Blissfield Rotary Club and The Hickman Family Foundation, funded the essential needs of local children, elderly, and other residents through monetary donations.
Resourceful Production
Several local organizations have adjusted their production lines to support the medical equipment needs throughout the state. The Rima Manufacturing Company received a contract with General Motors to assist in its plans to produce ventilators. The Gus Harrison Correctional Facility has manufactured protective eyewear for the Michigan Department of Corrections staff who work in facilities with positive COVID-19 cases. They planned to deliver 1,000 to the facilities that are affected by the pandemic.