Businesses pivot in pandemic, offer help and hope KARI PUGH
C
karipugh@insidenova.com
OVID-19 restrictions brought the local economy to a screeching halt earlier this year, but local businesses found ways to help their employees and communities. TURNING JUNK TO TREASURE
Mark Harrington started Junkluggers of Gainesville last year with a mission to enhance lives, the community and the environment by donating, recycling and supporting local charities. Partnering with House of Mercy, Junkluggers hosted a May donation drive at the over-55 Heritage Hunt community aimed at collecting goods residents were busy cleaning out during the COVID-19 quarantine. The team collected five truckloads of gently used clothing and small electronics. The collected goods helped the House of Mercy continue to offer food, clothing, education and prayer to those in need in western Prince William County. The nonprofit works with an average of 350 families per month through its food pantry and thrift store to help with basic needs.
The Junkluggers of Gainesville collected toss-offs from quarantine closet clean-outs in Heritage Hunt to help the House of Mercy.
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KO Distilling in Manassas has added high-proof hand sanitizer to its offerings since the pandemic.
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A FREE RIDE
While commuter travel ground to a halt as stay-at-home orders went into effect earlier this year, OmniRide kept the buses running. In March, the transit service began operating local and Metro Express buses fare-free, with the aim of reducing interactions between the driver and riders at the fare box. Although ridership plummeted by 95% for commuter bus routes and over 70% for local bus routes during the height of the pandemic, OmniRide kept buses running to make sure essential employees were able to get to work and the public could get to critical destinations like grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals. The gamble is paying off. Once Virginia started advancing into Phases 2 and 3 of its reopening plan, OmniRide saw more people riding buses again. The company also instituted stringent cleaning of bus interiors daily, focusing on common areas such as handrails, arm rests, seat backs, and the bus operator’s compartment. Local buses were also pulled of their-routes at mid-day to be sanitized before being put back into service. HOLD THE LIQUOR
Like toilet paper, hand sanitizer was in short supply earlier this year. At two Prince William County distilleries, production switched -- from liquor to high-proof hand sanitizer. At KO Distilling in Manassas, barrels of Bare Knuckle hand sanitizer are still
for sale, at $99 for five gallons. Since the start of the pandemic, KO has donated more than $20,000 worth of the sanitizer to those in need, caregivers and first responders. At MurLarkey Distilled Spirits in Bristow, soon after the team switched from whiskey production to sanitizer, the business was flooded with requests from fire and rescue departments and county and state governments asking to help fill the shortage for hand sanitizers for their workers. The company made hundreds of gallons of high-proof sanitizer -- first for
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Prince William and Fairfax counties and their first responder and medical units and then for individuals. SENIOR LIVING IN QUARANTINE
Harmony at Spring Hill assisted living in Lorton was already focused on combating the dangers of loneliness and isolation among residents, but staff has worked extra hard since the COVID-19 pandemic ended in-person family visits. According to a report by the National Institute on Aging, research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart
disease, obesity, weakened immunity, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and even death, Harmony says. Conversely, people who engage in meaningful, productive activities with others tend to live longer, are happier, and have a sense of purpose. These activities help maintain well-being and improve cognitive function. Harmony is offering small group activities, drive-by parade celebrations and front porch chats at a social distance, along with fun activities like socially distanced parties, crafts and even a little imbibing on “Wine Wednesdays.”
