During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of corporations, non-profit organisations, and individuals established programmes to provide free products, services, and discounts to healthcare workers. These initiatives were designed to acknowledge the essential role of medical professionals and first responders, offering practical support for their daily needs. The available offers span a wide range of categories, including personal protective equipment (PPE), apparel, food, mental health resources, and professional development tools. This article details the specific freebies and discounts for healthcare workers that were documented during that period, focusing on eligibility, redemption processes, and the nature of the offers themselves.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Supplies
A primary focus of support was the provision of personal protective equipment, which was in critically short supply during the early stages of the pandemic. Several organisations and platforms emerged to connect healthcare workers with essential safety gear.
- Mask Match operated as a peer-to-peer platform. Its purpose was to help individuals with spare N95 masks send them directly to healthcare workers on the front lines who required them. The platform facilitated this direct donation process.
- MasksOn.org provided Emergency Use face shields for medical purposes. These were offered free-of-charge to clinicians who were concerned they might run out of FDA-cleared PPE. The service was specifically aimed at addressing supply shortages for frontline medical staff.
- Preppi was reported to be giving away free air respirator masks. These were intended for those in need whenever unexpected situations like the COVID-19 pandemic arose.
- MI Mask Aid was a specific programme in Michigan, USA. It involved a partnership between the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide millions of free masks to Michigan residents most vulnerable to COVID-19.
- SOS Supplies was identified as a non-profit project. Its goal was to connect charities and organisations in need of protective equipment with suppliers who could offer stock at a fair price, specifically within the UK context.
- Glowforge offered free EarSavers, a tool designed to reduce ear strain from prolonged mask use. Notably, Glowforge covered the cost of expedited freight shipping, ensuring recipients paid nothing.
- TouchTool was a small, compact tool designed to help users limit contact with surfaces that may harbour germs. Free samples were available to individuals in the USA by completing a request form.
- NOBULL provided discounted button headbands and general discounts to communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apparel and Footwear
Offers in this category focused on providing comfort and practical clothing for long shifts, as well as tokens of gratitude.
- Crocs made a notable donation, offering a free pair of shoes (with free shipping) to healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. This was a global initiative for first responder healthcare workers.
- Barco Uniforms, a recognised leader in the medical apparel industry, committed to donating scrubs to medical professionals on the frontlines for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. A request submission process was in place for this.
- Clove included free compression socks with every Clove purchase. To receive this, individuals needed to add a pair of socks to a cart containing shoes and apply the discount code WITHLOVE at checkout.
- Ably Apparel offered a free item from their website to first responders. The process involved tagging oneself on Ably's Instagram page starting from April 8th.
- Kerusso extended a 10% discount on all items in their store as a token of gratitude for first responders.
- Tieks by Gavrieli launched the #SewTOGETHER Challenge. This campaign encouraged customers to sew masks for frontline heroes. In return, participants could receive a $50 Tieks Gift card for sewing 25 masks or a $100 Gift Card for sewing 50 or more masks.
- Puffy provided a free pillow plus a $375 discount to all healthcare professionals, intended to help them enjoy better sleep.
Food and Beverages
Recognising the need for sustenance during long hours, several food and beverage companies offered complimentary products.
- UberEats announced it would provide free meals and rides to first responders and healthcare workers in the U.S. and Canada. This was coordinated with local, state, and provincial governments. Interested officials and organisations were directed to contact Uber at [email protected] to partner.
- Krispy Kreme offered a thank-you initiative where all healthcare workers could receive free dozens of Original Glazed® Doughnuts. This began on Monday, March 30, and continued every subsequent Monday through National Nurses Week (May 6-12).
- Starbucks provided a tall brewed or iced coffee to police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and researchers until May 3.
Mental Health and Wellness Support
The pandemic's toll on mental well-being prompted the creation of several support services specifically for healthcare workers.
- Talkspace Online Counseling, a digital behaviour health leader, donated 1,000 months of free online therapy to frontline healthcare workers. Medical professionals received one free month of the Unlimited Messaging Plus plan, which included online therapy via text, audio, and video calls with a licensed therapist. Eligibility also extended to those who had recently purchased a membership or had an upcoming renewal.
- Neurocore Brain Performance, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offered free telehealth counselling to all first responders and medical professionals in the U.S. through May 1st, 2020.
- Warrior Teletherapy Network provided free teletherapy to healthcare workers in the Kansas City metro area.
- DiveThru App is a guided journaling app developed with mental health professionals. It offers exercises to help users manage stress and difficult moments, available for exploration.
- Support Groups for Nurses were established as no-cost, confidential emotional support groups for nurses on the frontlines of COVID-19. These groups met for an hour at a time, providing a space for connection, sharing, and learning new mindfulness and emotional skills. They were led by trained facilitators, including coaches, counsellors, social workers, and support group leaders.
Professional Development and Training Resources
Several organisations offered free training and educational resources to help healthcare professionals stay updated with pandemic-related care protocols.
- IntelyCare, a workforce management solution for post-acute facilities, launched a free COVID-19 training certification programme in response to the pandemic. The course covered top safety practices for caring for COVID-19 patients.
- The American Nurses Association offered a free COVID-19 training for nurses titled "Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients during this COVID-19 Pandemic."
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses provided a free online course, "Pulmonary, ARDS, and Ventilator Resources," available 24/7. It featured the latest information nurses needed to care for patients with COVID-19.
- Osmosis developed multiple resources, including a free COVID-19 course for health professionals (eligible for 2 CME credits), free clinical skill videos on related topics, and free events such as meditation and yoga sessions and AMA sessions hosted by their Chief Medical Officer.
- Bluestream offered a free 60-day trial of its HIPAA-compliant Virtual Care Solution to help care providers work with patients affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Cureatr offered its Meds 360° software and clinical telepharmacy services for free. This software helps fill gaps in patient medication history, reducing errors and improving clinical and financial outcomes.
- Pro Teeth Guard provided a free $100 store credit for frontline workers for their dentist-quality dental night guards.
- Nursing Books through Amazon offered a selection of free Kindle books for nurses.
Other Support and Discounts
Additional offers aimed to provide comfort and practical assistance in other areas.
- Emma Sleep operated the Emma Frontline Worker Discount Programme, offering an additional 10% discount off any order for healthcare workers, first responders, warehouse workers, transportation workers, and grocery store workers.
- The Jim Coleman store curated shirts and water bottles for sale, specifically for healthcare heroes.
Conclusion
The collective response from various organisations to support healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic was extensive, covering essential PPE, comfortable apparel, nourishing food, critical mental health services, and valuable professional training. These programmes were typically accessible through specific brand websites or dedicated sign-up forms, with eligibility often confirmed through professional status. While many of these offers were time-bound initiatives linked to the height of the pandemic, they represent a significant period of corporate and community support for frontline professionals. Consumers and workers seeking similar support should always verify the current status of any programme directly with the official brand source, as offers can change or expire.