COVID-19: Random Acts Of Kindness

As soon as Covid hit, the silver lining of the global pandemic also emerged. While the world was falling apart at the seams, some people were sewing it back together again with random acts of kindness:

• People called loved ones they had not spoken to in a long time.
• The level of care for others rose to incredible levels.
• People began to open their hearts and share more.
• Priorities came to the surface, and contribution was at the top of the list.
• Appreciation for the simple things and gratitude were at an all-time high.
• Texts and emails of encouragement and cheerful words of hope and better days were at an all-time high.
• People volunteered in record numbers.
• Some people donated to charity, food banks, and other non-profits.
• Many neighbors supported each other and helped out in their community.

The pandemic paved the way for millions of people to find beauty in the toughest of places.

BUSINESSES PIVOT

The business world changed dramatically. Some companies went out of business entirely while others adapted to the challenges at hand. People found new ways to connect and conduct business on zoom. The online world boomed.

Some businesses mobilized to support the needs of the pandemic. Many companies joined the global movement for good and did new and creative things to assist those in need. One of those companies was Tamal Industrial Solutions of Mt. Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada.

Tamal Industrial Solutions is a leading industrial rubber hose supplier in Atlantic Canada. Over the course of the pandemic, the company faced the stark reality of little to no business. Those tough times forced CEO, Allan Barnes to pivot the company in a new direction.

Barnes said, “When Covid first hit, and business took a dramatic downturn. We thought about what we could be selling to offset the downturn in business. At the time, the Newfoundland government announced mandatory mask-wearing in all indoor spaces so and we decided to produce face masks made from Neoprene fabric. In our warehouse, we have a hydraulic gasket cutting press. We created a die to stamp out the masks from a Neoprene Fabric. From there, we designed and manufactured masks in-house. It was a creative project that met the demands of the pandemic.”

Allan Barnes has a heart of gold. He found a creative way to keep busy and give back at the same time. He said, “I felt that the Community Food Sharing Association was likely going to be hit hard during Covid, as many people had lost their jobs. We decided to donate $1.00 from each mask we sold to the Community Food Sharing Association. We managed to sell 5712 masks and although we didn’t make a fortune, we did manage to donate $5712.00 to the Community Food Sharing Association. If nothing else, this project kept us busy during a time when there was nothing else happening. Supporting others felt good as we were helping out a good cause during a difficult time for so many people.”

THE GATHERING PLACE

The pandemic has been especially difficult for the most vulnerable in society. Supporting those in need, The Gathering Place assists thousands of people dealing with addictions, mental illness, and abuse.

The Gathering Place in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is a haven for people in need, during troubled times. Patrons come for a meal, a shower, or to connect with others. People often need medical or dental care, while other people avail of the emergency overnight shelter. Donations help every facet of life for patrons of The Gathering Place.

The power of the human spirit and the goodness of the human heart shone through. During Christmas 2021, Allan Barnes, with the support of a few close friends, decided to support The Gathering Place with Project Extreme Claus. Allan, along with friends; Tony Whalen of Vision33, Chris Moore of Executive Coffee, and Ian Bailey with Helping Hands Home Care came together and raised an incredible donation of $32,500 for The Gathering Place. It was a donation they can all feel very proud to have given.

Despite all the Covid-19 hardships, and what seems like insurmountable darkness, the light always seems to find a way to come in.

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Everyone has a good news story during Covid-19. What is yours?

Join Allan Barnes and the Extreme Clause Team. To donate and take action with the Tamal team please go to:
TamalIndustrial.com