{"id":12899,"date":"2020-04-16T09:55:22","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T13:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northcentralmass.com\/?p=12899"},"modified":"2020-04-16T14:08:52","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T18:08:52","slug":"innovation-and-philanthropy-in-the-wake-of-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northcentralmass.com\/es\/innovation-and-philanthropy-in-the-wake-of-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"INNOVACI\u00d3N Y FILANTROP\u00cdA TRAS EL COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Four Businesses Are Serving North Central Massachusetts<\/em><\/p>\n

While non-essential business have been forced to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies in North Central Massachusetts are stepping up with innovative and philanthropic solutions to support the community, health care institutions and those in need, while also taking measures to protect their employees.<\/p>\n

From making hand sanitizer, to building temporary nurses\u2019 stations, to setting up a drive-through window for food pickup, or donating storage containers and masks, local businesses are doing whatever it takes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud and privileged to play a small role in helping our communities fight this fight,\u2019\u2019 said David Reilly, president of United Solutions in Leominster. \u201cWe are in regular contact with many state and local organizations, and our team here will continue to seek out ways to support our communities and the country.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

United Solutions<\/strong>, a leading manufacturer of plastic totes, trash cans and storage organization solutions, donated Rubbermaid Roughneck Totes and Rubbermaid Action Packers to the Fitchburg Fire Department, Leominster Fire Department, Leominster Emergency Responders, Hopkinton Fire Department, and donated PPE masks to UMass Medical Center.<\/p>\n

Reilly said their team is focused on keeping employees safe and healthy while working to meet the demand for products needed by families, essential businesses, first responders, healthcare professionals and military personnel on the front lines of this critical effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the same time, where we can help, whether it\u2019s by getting our Rubbermaid storage or United Solutions sanitation and other products quickly to local organizations or donating excess PPE or PPE we can procure through our supply chains to organizations, we will do our best,\u2019\u2019 Reilly said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Leominster-based AIS<\/strong>, a leading manufacturer of commercial office furniture and seating, has also taken several measures to\u00a0support the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The company acquired and donated 4,000 KN95 mask to first responders in Leominster and Fitchburg, said Bruce Platzman, president and chief operating officer. He said the company is now also manufacturing and donating two different types of masks \u2013 a cloth mask made of three layers of fabric including a antimicrobial layer to help kill and repel germs and one less complex.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Platzman said he has converted an area of the company typically used to make seating just for masks. Production takes place 16 hours a day.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had a million mask to donate, I could find people to take them,\u2019\u2019 he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the masks, AIS has adapted its manufacturing to provide equipment most needed by essential industries like hospitals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Platzman said about 95 percent of its orders are going to organizations that need to stay open \u2013 an emergency nurses station for Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital, and projects for the FBI and the Pentagon, to name a few.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we get an order from a triage center in Brooklyn, which we did, and don\u2019t deliver the chairs and desks they need, that triage center doesn\u2019t open up,\u2019\u2019 Platzman said. \u201cIt\u2019s as simple as that.\u2019\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AIS\u00a0 <\/span>has also taken many steps to protect its 700 workers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The company is:<\/p>\n