Maintaining Community Outreach (Safely) During and After COVID-19

How do you continue community outreach efforts with people at risk while maintaining cautious measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic?

A question that many companies and individuals have been struggling with over the last six months.

Under the complex conditions brought by COVID-19, NTC has maintained our community outreach efforts in the face of the coronavirus throughout 2020 while taking safety measures. 

Community involvement and support for programs and individuals in need is the core to the company culture at NTC. Our company’s culture and social responsibility is to contribute by volunteering, donating, and supporting as many organizations as possible that are within the company’s nonprofit pillars. In past years, there was no concern about including our staff as volunteers with community events and nonprofits in need. Although it has been challenging to incorporate staff in charitable efforts throughout the pandemic, it has been important to show our employees the importance of staying true to our company’s values and mission to help our community.   

Over the last six months throughout the pandemic, our CEO and leadership team have been creative and stepped outside the box to find ways to serve those in need through the following events:

• Hospitals and medical staff faced a shortage of critical supplies and some of the most challenging days they have ever seen during the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking for ways to help, NTC donated $25,000 to the St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation Caregiver and Healthcare Worker Fund. Our CEO, John Hillman, personally made a significant donation as well as one of NTC’s founding owners, Ed Marsh.

To help with the need for masks, the company partnered with BeautyByEarth’s President and Founder, Prudence Millsap, and together donated 8,000 surgical masks. 

• In honor of May’s National Foster Care Awareness Month, NTC fulfilled the Children’s Home Network’s “Summer Wish List” of pool activities, arts & crafts, recreation supplies, and more. 

• NTC was proud to support and be a part of the Ruth Cheatham Foundation “Making a Difference, from a Distance” virtual event in May. The organization provides financial stability and guidance for children and teenagers who are fighting their battles with cancer. Previously, NTC attended and sponsored the organization’s annual Gala in Dallas, Texas. NTC plans to support and attend the gala in 2021. 

• In August, NTC’s employees collectively help donated back to school supplies for the children at the Boys and Girls Club Tampa Bay for in-person and virtual school.

• In September, our Human Resources team and staff supported our furry friends at the Humane Society of Pinellas, by hosting a food drive for the organization’s food shelter by collecting food and supplies. 

In closing, it is through some of the hardest times that companies must be creative and proactive to maintain its core values and help communities in need.