Standing With Our Retail Associates When They Needed It Most

After the difficult decision to temporarily close our 20 retail stores, our priority was to walk with our more than 600 furloughed retail associates and their families. It began with two weeks of furlough pay and continues with support from our RISE Coaching program.

Our biggest surprise outcome came when we set out to fundraise around our own internal community, something that many organizations were not able to do. Thanks to the outpouring of support from 367 donors (including 153 first-time supporters), we were able to cover our furloughed community on our health insurance plans for an additional three months!

In an unprecedented time of need, so many of you shared your desire to do something to help support our associates – your neighbors and friends. We wanted to share a note of thanks from one of our retail associates.

“A few minutes back, I came to know about the awesome results of all your hard work. Yes, I am referring to the associates’ health insurance benefits!!!
Thank you to each one of you who stretched all your efforts and prayers to reach here. I appreciate and thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart, and wait for the day when I can thank you personally. Thank you for your kindness and empathy, support and guidance always, in all ways.”