As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, more and more companies each day are lending a hand to aid in the cause. Several members of The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) are providing direct assistance to those in need during this crisis.

Mohawk Industries has commissioned two of their production facilities to create much-needed medical gowns and face shields for healthcare workers, local law enforcement and first responders in the North Georgia area. The company is manufacturing 8,000-10,000 face shields per day and is ramping up to produce 5,000 gowns per day. Over 46,000 medical gowns and 68,000 face shields have been produced and shipped to date. Mohawk is also supporting their retailer partners with information on available resources through their COVID-19 Response Resource Center available on their website. Each week, retailers receive the Mohawk Retail Digest with a section for resources and business tips during this unprecedented time. Additionally, the company has set up a dedicated email, Government_Relief@mohawkind.com, for customers to send questions about the CARES Act and Mohawk support.

Another member, Shaw Industries, is also engaged in the fight. They have donated 2,000 N95 masks to local hospitals and connected medical facilities with Shaw suppliers for more rapid access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet growing needs. Shaw has also developed their own hand sanitizer and disinfectant for use in their north Georgia facilities, relieving pressure in the supply chain for others seeking similar materials. To assist with quarantine needs, the company has donated 100 Chromebook tablets to local school systems to provide remote sessions for speech and occupational therapy for students in need of devices. To aid the warriors in the health care industry, Shaw has provided meals from local restaurants for healthcare workers in Northwest Georgia hospitals, including a donation to Because Calhoun Cares. Shaw has also supported associates to volunteer their time in support of various COVID-19 response efforts, including leveraging the Shaw MakerSpace to 3D print face shields. These face shields as well as employee-sewn cloth masks are being donated to medical personnel.

Mannington, another of the founding NALFA members, is supporting the fight as well.  Mannington’s plant in Madison, GA, in collaboration with Klockner Pentaplast, is engaged in making and assembling protective face asks to donate to healthcare and law enforcement professionals around the country.  In these unprecedented times, Mannington believes that this is the ideal time to come together as an industry – to help each other and learn from each other.  With that in mind, Mannington is proud to present Stronger Together – a series of webinars that will bring insight from industry experts and real-life perspective from respected retailers to help retailers navigate the issues of the day.  For more information, go to https://www.mannington.com/strongertogether

Torlys, a Canada-based flooring distributor and NALFA member, is contributing to the initiative “Conquer COVID-19”, found at ConquerCOVID19.ca. This is a grass roots, volunteer-driven organization comprised of physicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other volunteers working together to ensure frontline workers have access to PPE and other supplies essential in treating patients and minimizing the spread of the virus. Torlys shipped out 6,000 surgical masks on April 22nd.

Pak-Lite, Inc., a Georgia-based flooring underlayment and custom products manufacturer and NALFA associate member, is manufacturing much needed face shields for front line medical workers and first responders.  Using well-developed partnerships with their suppliers, Pak-Lite was able to procure the required materials and convert a manufacturing line and assembly area in less than two weeks to meet the first of many shipments.

Floor & Decor, the Atlanta-based specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and NALFA retail member, has donated over 7,100 N95 and KN95 respirator masks to Emory Healthcare, a leading hospital network at the forefront of treating the COVID pandemic.  The masks will be used to protect frontline medical workers throughout the Southeastern U.S.  Additionally, Floor & Decor has donated masks and other supplies such as gloves and hand sanitizer to numerous local and national healthcare providers.

These are some examples of how the North American Laminate Flooring industry is coming together to help our communities. Other NALFA members are also involved in various local, domestic and global efforts to provide relief during this trying time.