Making the world a little brighter during COVID-19

BCD employees are keeping the community spirit alive

We’re all experiencing a time of uncertainty with the global pandemic. However, lockdown doesn’t mean we can’t keep our community spirit alive. Some of our BCD colleagues across the globe shared their personal stories about how they’re helping their local communities. They are making the world a little brighter and we want to share these inspirational stories with you.

Reaching out to loved ones

Jackie Spahr, based in Phoenix, made Easter sugar eggs for the doctor’s office where her sister works as a token of appreciation for their work in this difficult time. Dana Tedesco is living in Chicago. She and her kids have been coloring, stamping and painting papers galore and sent them out in the mail to their loved ones that they dearly miss now that they can’t visit: grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.

Jackie and her beautiful Easter sugar eggs:

Dana and the creative paintings for family and friends:

Supporting frontline workers

Deborah Johnson and her daughter are part of a group sewing face masks for healthcare workers in Hartford, that can be worn over their surgical/N95 masks to extend the life span of their masks. They’re using a sewing pattern that was recommended by the local hospital, using three layers of 100% cotton quilting fabric. At first, they started with fabric donated by community members from their own supply, and now are purchasing fabric with donations they’ve received.

Deborah: “While making masks is helping others in the community, this project has also given me a purpose and something positive to focus on. It has allowed me to go from feeling helpless to making a difference.”

Helping elderly neighbors

Sharon Dirks in Germany is helping her elderly neighbors with their groceries and other errands, now that they’re confined to their homes due to COVID-19.

Sharon: “To keep everyone in good spirits, I also bake cakes and muffins every weekend. It’s nice to have the time to practice my favorite hobby and sharing with others in our local community.”

Saving tulips

In the Netherlands, millions of tulips normally go to auction for export every week. When Anja Meuwissen, born in Belgium but living in the Netherlands, heard about a flower farm being left with a huge surplus of flowers that they can’t sell due to the corona situation, she went to their website and ordered hundreds of flowers to save them from destruction.

Anja: “I bought hundreds of tulips, that would otherwise wither or be destroyed, and delivered them to the elderly residents living in my apartment building to brighten up their days. They loved it!”

Running to raise money

Chuck Hull was planning to run the Pittsburgh Marathon to raise money for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, a foundation dedicated to raising funds for cancer research. Due to the corona pandemic, the running event was changed into a virtual marathon, allowing runners to run their 26.2 miles anywhere and anytime. Chuck decided that if he managed to raise $2500, he would run his marathon in a bunny suit.

Chuck: “Before I knew it, it was Easter Sunday. I had reached my fundraising goal, so I was dressed to the nines in pink. There were way more people out there than I had expected, honking from their cars, taking pictures, yelling ‘Happy Easter’ and thanking me for making them smile.”

Picking litter

John Kelly is in lockdown in the U.K. and only allowed one walk with the dog a day. He’s using it to do litter picks in his local community.

John: “I get fresh air, the local area is cleaner and the dog thinks it’s amazing to get long walks”.

Do what’s right, solve things together, and feed the future

For more inspirational stories, read this LinkedIn blog from our President and CEO John Snyder sharing his personal story about helping the community.

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