Seattle Companies (and beyond) making a difference when we are all in the same lifeboat

If I ever get to be a grandma, I want to remember these days. It feels so surreal how suddenly we went from creating cool content all around the world on the internet to being shut inside our homes. Even the park near our home has police tape all around the playground blocking it off so kids can’t climb it. There is no where in the world to escape this virus and right now it feels like we’re all in one big lifeboat except we’re 6 feet apart and only connected by our smartphones. And while there is so much terrible in uncertainty the thing that keeps my heart shining is that there are some really amazing people working for cool companies around the world doing some pretty incredible things.

Seattle Companies doing cool things to help out during the Coronavirus outbreak

I’ve shouted out Canlis before but I love what they started in our Seattle community-instead of closing down their fancy restaurant completely, they pivoted and provided more affordable takeout and delivery for the community to keep their staff employed. Eddie Bauer is another company in our Seattle neighborhood that is pivoting-they have closed down their stores but they are making masks for hospital workers. The founder of Piroshky Piroshky one of our Pike Place Market favorites has created a delivery app that helps local restaurants. And our favorite pizza place Tutta Bella is doing free deliveries to our neighborhood and it is so comforting to still be able to get some of our comfort foods on days when life feels overwhelming and tough.

Smith Brothers‘ Farms who I’ve worked with in the past has been so dependable in delivering milk and other local products- I’ve had orders from bigger companies not show up or be cancelled last minute but my milk delivery is something I’ve been able to count on. I love that Smith Brothers also carries so many products from other Pacific Northwest companies so I can add local products and feel like I’m supporting my community with one shopping trip.

And how the Four Seasons is helping out the world:

I have had one opportunity in my life to stay at a Four Seasons hotel and now I will always look for them, shout them out and dream about them because they are letting hospital workers in New York City stay there while they work their hospital shifts. Four Seasons is the epitome of service, luxury and high standards and seeing them give these workers this kind of tribute is something that makes my eyes tear up.

Free things for healthcare workers and some for all of us too

I’ve been intrigued by Allbirds shoes because they have made some cool commercials and their stores have clean, aesthetically pleasing design. But they were one of the first companies I saw giving back to healthcare workers in this epidemic. They offered healthcare workers a free pair of shoes and that is something really heartfelt. (Crocs just started offering free footwear for healthcare workers too!) Starbucks is also helping out healthcare workers and emergency responders with free tall iced or hot brewed coffee. Peloton is giving 90 days of online workouts through its app for free and you don’t even need a bike to do these workouts at home so it’s a great way to feel connected and get some exercise. And Tieks is offering gift cards to people who help out by sewing masks at home. Seeing companies like this step up to find innovative ways to help our world out when we’ve hit rock bottom is such a good reminder that we can all pitch in in some way right now. Even if it feels like we have nothing to give, there is always something we can do.

Resources for Kids at Home

And for kids, there are so many opportunities right now. Tinkergarten is sharing some things to do with kids at home. Raddish Kids gave away thousands of free boxes and are offering live “at home with kids” cooking classes through Facebook Live. We are trying Outschool classes for the very first time and finding that it’s a great way for kids to connect without being physically connected in a classroom. Microsoft is offering free Minecraft education classes too and I’m actually excited to check these out. The Living Computers Museum and Labs in Seattle also has a bunch of education online resources and a free membership for educators too.

So maybe if we are lucky enough to get back to regular life after this, and I so hope we will get back to life as before, I want to remember these companies who represent the helpers in our neighborhood. These are the companies who have pivoted to help their consumers, they’re offering things big and small and they are uplifting us all who are doing our best to stay at home. And maybe if I get to be a grandma one day, I hope I remember who helped us out when we were stuck at home fighting the biggest war of our time and I hope that maybe I can feel like by sharing these things I did a little bit to help out too.

Terumi

Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys.  She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live.  She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)