DONATION OF SAFETY
UniFirst Corporation donates masks to Saratoga County as region set to enter Phase 3
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Local businesses are preparing for Phase 3 as the Capital Region continues progressing through the stages of the state’s New York Forward reopening plan.
The start of Phase 3, expected to take place Wednesday, allows restaurants to reopen their doors for indoor dining, as well as the return of personal care businesses such as nail salons, tattoo parlors and spas.
The guidelines for these industries require the procurement and use of much-needed supplies, including face coverings for all employees.
To help small businesses reopen safely, the Saratoga County business community recently received a donation of 10,000 face masks.
The Massachusetts-based UniFirst Corporation — a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs — donated these masks to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce in an effort to support the local community.
“This community has supported our business for nearly 50 years. We’re so grateful to them for that and proud to give back to them during this challenging time,” UniFirst general manager Keith Plummer said.
“We recognize that, as state shutdowns are lifted and the economy begins to reopen, many small business owners, the everyday heroes on the front lines of the recovery, are struggling to source and provide their staff with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) required to meet government guidelines,” he continued. “With this donation, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce has the opportunity to divide and share the donated masks with local companies of its choosing.”
Through its recent gesture in the Saratoga community, “We hope that this donation of face masks allows small businesses to uphold their own commitments to the health and safety of their employees and customers,” Plummer said.
The chamber, along with help from partner organizations, distributed the masks throughout Saratoga County as part of Small Business Recovery Kits, which were provided to hundreds of area businesses over the past few weeks. Each kit includes a startup supply of masks, hand sanitizer, signs, disinfectant, a spray bottle and a bucket.
Upon accepting this large donation, chamber president Todd Shimkus thanked Plummer and UniFirst.
“As our small businesses start to welcome customers back, we want to make sure that they can do that safely, and that means that they need all sorts of PPE, and what we’re trying to do is give them a little start up kit in order to be able to do that safely,” he said of the effort in a video on Facebook. “We want Saratoga
County’s reopening to be as safe as possible to put health first and Unifirst Corporation really helped us to make that happen.”
“We’re glad to do it,” Plummer responded. “We figure we’re helping protect the next stage of everyday heroes that are going to be in the restaurants serving us and taking care of us, and we’re glad to be part of that.”
Plummer mentioned that UniFirst does a lot of business with food suppliers, which rely on a thriving restaurant industry.
“Part of this is helping everybody get back in business,” he said, “and hopefully
Each small business recovery kits contains masks, hand sanitizer, signage, disinfectant, a spray bottle and a five gallon bucket. everything will take off.”