The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our community, not just to our residents, but also to our businesses, schools, and healthcare system. This virus has left nothing untouched in its path. Our schools have closed for the remainder of the academic year, leaving parents to tackle home schooling or, in some cases, students are receiving on-line instruction. Many businesses have been closed, others have restricted hours, and our country now has unprecedented numbers of individuals applying for unemployment as our American economy seems to be collapsing.
At the beginning of 2020, many of us had never heard the term social distancing, which has now become part of our daily vocabulary and routines. We are in the midst of facing challenges like never before. Charles Swindoll said that, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” While each of us will respond differently, our team at Direct Results is working to stay positive. We recognize that there are things beyond our control that we cannot change. However, we are choosing to keep going, choosing to feel empowered to make a difference, and trying to get over the hurdles in front of us.
Our team is practicing social distancing, with many of our team members working from home, while those working in-house are following the necessary precautions. Even with our team spread across our region as we work, we continue to keep our sights on the community that we love. When we put our minds together to develop a project that could keep our team working and be something special to help others, the Stand Strong campaign was established.
Our efforts to spread positivity during this time of trial and uncertainty extend far beyond the walls of quarantine. Our talented designers developed a Stand Strong logo and website, and our proficient sales team supplied product ideas and marketing strategies. Our ideas became reality, and anyone can visit our website (www.drfanwear.com/standstrong) to purchase anything from hats to hoodies, T-shirts, magnets, and mugs. The BEST part of our Stand Strong campaign is that we’re not just selling products. Proceeds from every item sold are going back into our local economy. We are buying products and gift certificates from local small businesses to fill gift baskets that will be donated to local healthcare workers.
The response that we have received so far has been amazing! In fact, our Stand Strong campaign has expanded to businesses. Business owners can purchase Stand Strong t-shirts with their business name or logo printed on the back or sleeve of each shirt. Proceeds will continue to flow back into our local economy, as we continue to support other small businesses and donate to local workers fighting on the front lines of this battle.
With our Stand Strong campaign making progress, our team continued to pursue additional projects to support our community. Local small business owner, Ben McMillen, has been working tirelessly on a project called Masks for Greene County. Ben’s company, Hilltop Packs, has equipment to produce reusable face masks. These are not N95 masks or medical grade PPE, but they can be used to help prevent people from sharing illnesses. Governor Tom Wolf recommended that “all Pennsylvanians wear a mask any time they leave their homes for life-sustaining reasons.” So, our incredibly talented production team stepped up and repurposed our embroidery department. We partnered with Ben and his company, and we are now producing face masks!
We can and will stand strong against this invisible enemy. We have a motto at Direct Results that says, “We are the leaders that everyone is waiting for, even if there’s no one else coming. We are responsible for all of it working and everyone winning.” And, according to our calculations, if 90% of life is how we respond to what happens to us, and we each give 100%, then the total is ONE DIFFERENCE! We will fight. We will face adversity and come out on the other side strengthened and united. We are all in this together, and we will STAND STRONG and WIN!
If you would like more information or if you would like to be involved with our Stand Strong campaign, please email our team at info@directresults.us or call us at 724-627-2040. Stand Strong and Stay Safe!