Biz Briefs: Law firm’s charitable group donates lunches to frontline workers
Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 24, 2020
SALISBURY — Wallace & Graham Gives, a charitable support group launched in April, has funded approximately 900 staff lunches since its creation to support Novant Health’s Respiratory Screening Center and other frontline workers.
The initial donation to the effort amounted to $10,000 to the Rowan County United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund, and the lunches have exceeded $10,000.
W&G Partner Bill Graham, the current Chair of the Novant Health Foundation, spearheaded the donation.
“It was important to us to support the dedicated front-line nurses and staff who are putting their lives on the line, working hard and stressful hours to support the continued health of this community,” Graham said in a statement. “We also wanted to support local restaurants given the toll that COVID-19 has taken on the restaurant industry.”
W&G has launched a W&G Gives Committee consisting of 12 W&G employees with board terms beginning June 1. It will assist in determining the recipients of additional grants in the future. The program’s primary mission will focus on initiatives that benefit the local community and the firm’s past or present clients, as well as team-building charitable activities that members of the firm can take part in together.
Wake Forest Baptist Health, Renfro offer facemasks
MOUNT AIRY — Renfro Corporation and Wake Forest Baptist Health have teamed up to design and manufacture the Nightingale Mask to help communities across the nation combat the spread of COVID-19.
The mask was designed to help consumers abide by the CDC’s recommendation to wear cloth face coverings, and was tested by medical professionals to ensure superior fit, reusability and protection. The mask is manufactured in the U.S.
“Renfro’s century of experience combined with facilities that are uniquely suited to produce textiles at great scale — along with Wake Forest Baptist Health’s medical expertise — enabled us to swiftly convert our manufacturing equipment over to face mask production and commercialize the product in 10 days,” said Stan Jewell, president and CEO of Renfro. “This speed and scale are allowing us to produce more than one million masks every week, and we plan to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.”The maks cost $7.50 at www.nightingalesafe.com.
Renfro and Wake Forest Baptist Health’s have collaborated before with the first batch of Nightingale masks, with 390,000 distributed in Winston-Salem as part of the city’s Mask the City initiative in April.
“The Nightingale Mask features an innovative tri-zone ergonomic design, superior comfort, protective properties and is washable and reusable,” said Dr. William M. Satterwhite III, the chief wellness officer at Wake Forest Baptist Health. “Our early internal research identified a wide range of particle filtration efficiencies of various materials in face masks, both homemade and commercially manufactured. Consequently, we were able to use this knowledge to work with Renfro to develop a product in which we have high confidence.
Satterwhite added that the mask design addresses common problems in most facemasks such as a lack of breathability, discomfort caused by elastic straps and a mask shape that conforms poorly to the wearer’s face. The product features soft, adjustable ties for a secure and customizable fit, and nose and mouth pockets to increase breathability and comfort.
Montgomery County Fund awards grant to Three Rivers Land Trust
SALISBURY — Three Rivers Land Trust will get $1,000 from the 2020 Montgomery County Fund, a component fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation, to assist with recreational amenities, biodiversity conservation and educational opportunities for the area.
The Land Trust works in the community as a strategic partner with other conservation agencies to help improve access to the region’s public lands, protect the biodiversity and scenic character of the region, and offer opportunities for environmental education and outdoor activities to enhance quality of life for all. Recreational amenities also bring tourism dollars to the area. A study by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission found that hunters, anglers and wildlife observers bring $4 billion to the state annually.
Last year alone, more than 1 million people visited the Uwharrie National Forest. Improving access to these amenities and more recreational opportunities will help boost the local economy and bring more jobs to the area.
“Three Rivers Land Trust is grateful to the Montgomery County Fund for supporting our efforts to expand recreational opportunities in Montgomery County,” said Executive Director Travis Morehead. “We believe in connecting the public to local conservation, by opening up river accesses and expanding trails, as well as hosting events that showcase these great natural resources.”
In recent years, the Land Trust has helped open three new kayak accesses on the Uwharrie River on Low Water Bridge Road, Highway 109, and Dennis Road. The Land Trust also helped the town of Star acquire a 30-acre park at the confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of the Little River, which is also an access point, and helped them write grants to build a parking area, picnic shelter, picnic tables, bridge over a creek on the trail and signage. The Land Trust has worked to add eight miles to the Uwharrie Trail, closing the last gap in Montgomery County.
To learn more about this project or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust, contact Crystal Cockman at 704-647-0302 or crystal@threeriverslandtrust.org.
About Natalie Anderson
Natalie Anderson covers the city of Salisbury, politics and more for the Salisbury Post. She joined the staff in January 2020 after graduating from Louisiana State University, where she was editor of The Reveille newspaper. Email her at natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com or call her at 704-797-4246.
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