8 more B.C. businesses doing good during COVID-19: Virtual beers, credit card reprieves and much more

Our series celebrates local companies that are stepping up to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Credit: Courtesy of Everglade Development

Everglade Development is helping Richmond Hospital buy medical equipment

Our series celebrates local companies that are stepping up to help others

The dramatic damage wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected companies large and small in every industry. As the chaos settles into a new normal, we should remind ourselves that people and businesses throughout B.C. are showing kindness and generosity. Despite all the bad news, it’s important to recognize those who have stepped up to do good for others.

In this weekly series, BCBusiness celebrates companies that have gone above and beyond to support the community and our health-care professionals. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

Blue Grouse Estate Winery

Throughout April, which is B.C. Wine Month, the Duncan business is donating $1 from every bottle of Blue Grouse and Quill wines sold on its premises and in stores and restaurants to the Nourish Cowichan society. The Brunner family, owners of Blue Grouse, will also match every donation dollar-for-dollar. Learn more here

Everglade Development

In its hometown, the real estate developer is using its six-month marketing budget to help buy equipment for Richmond Hospital, which recently put out a request for help. Besides that generous donation, Everglade has created a GoFundMe campaign to support the hospital. The company, which hopes to raise $100,000 for four hospital machines, has rallied the community with its #RichmondTOGETHER campaign. 

Molson Coors Beverage Co. 

In a time of social distancing and self-isolation, the brewing giant, which makes beer in Chilliwack, is encouraging virtual connection by bringing people “together” in support of local businesses. Inviting friends to connect over a #VirtualHappyHour, Molson Canadian rewards hosts with a $25 gift card for their favourite bar or restaurant. The program—check out the rules here—runs until April 30 or while supplies last. 

Snow Cap Enterprises

One of B.C.’s leading bakery and food supply distributors is stepping forward to help workers in the province’s struggling hospitality industry. Throughout April, Burnaby-based Snow Cap will donate 25 cents from each bag of flour sold in B.C., splitting the funds raised between the BC Hospitality Foundation and the Vancouver Food & Beverage Community Relief Fund.

Telus Corp.

In recognition of health-care workers, Telus CEO Darren Entwistle is giving his salary for April, May and June to those battling COVID-19 on the front lines. The Entwistle Family Foundation, which he established in 2018 with his wife, Fiona, will match this donation, doubling the financial impact for caregivers and, by extension, those vulnerable citizens who need help the most.

Thrive Remedies

Abbotsford-based Thrive specializes in wellness teas made with raw, natural ingredients. The company will donate a percentage of its annual sales to Foodbanks BC, whose member food banks are suffering major shortages as a result of the pandemic. 

Vancouver City Savings Credit Union

For those facing financial difficulty during the crisis, Vancity has temporarily cut credit card interest rates to 0 percent and will defer minimum payments. Before that move, the credit union was already working with affected businesses and individual cardholders to offer solutions such as lower interest rates and customized payment plans. Vancity has posted its changes and other information here.

Very Polite Agency

The Vancouver-based advertising, brand strategy and digital media firm has launched a project to fight COVID-19 boredom and help parents stuck in quarantine. In collaboration with designers and illustrators from around the world who donated their services, Very Polite offers a series of colouring, crossword, connect-the-dots and other posters that you can order here for home delivery or download and print. All proceeds go to UNICEF’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, which helps provide medical supplies to countries hit hardest by the pandemic. 

If you know a B.C. business that is going above and beyond to help others during the pandemic, drop us a line! We’d love to feature them in this weekly series. Please email darian@jellymarketing.com