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Meijer purchases 750,000 KN95 face masks for donation

Supercenter chain begins distribution to health care, emergency personnel

Russell Redman

May 11, 2020

2 Min Read
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Meijer is providing 750,000 face masks to government agencies, hospital systems, law enforcement agencies and other first responders.Meijer

As part of ongoing coronavirus response efforts, Meijer has procured 750,000 KN95 face masks and started distributing them to frontline workers and first responders throughout the Midwest.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer said Monday it’s working with COVID-19 emergency response teams and municipal health departments to manage the distribution to health care workers or emergency responders so those who need masks the most get them quicker.

The face masks will be provided to government agencies, hospital systems, law enforcement agencies and other first responders in many of the communities in Meijer’s market area, mainly in Michigan and Ohio, the supercenter retailer said. Recipients include Macomb and Oakland counties in Michigan and the city of Detroit, as well as the Michigan State Police. Those entities then will distribute the masks as needed.

“We are proud of our procurement team for helping us secure these much-needed masks, and we continue to do our part in keeping our team members and the communities we serve safe during these challenging times,” Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes said in a statement. “We’re pleased to have this opportunity and continue to look for ways to help our team members, customers and communities navigate through this new normal.”

Related:Meijer aids local restaurants with meal-buying program

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Starting in late April, Meijer began requiring all associates, vendors and contractors to wear a face covering. Customers are being urged to follow suit.

In addition, Meijer said it also has procured and donated medication and other personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and masks, to various COVID-19 emergency response teams. The donations include 2,000 vials of insulin and 2,000 vials of albuterol to the state of Michigan for distribution in southeast Michigan; 60,000 N95 face masks to the Michigan; 1.75 million pairs of powdered vinyl gloves to Detroit; and 4,000 N95 face masks to the state of Kentucky.

Meijer’s home state of Michigan has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. According to a database from The New York Times, Michigan currently has 47,116 COVID-19 cases, the seventh-most in the United States, and has reported 4,551 deaths, the fourth-most nationwide.

“We’ve seen an incredible amount of strength and courage from Michiganders during this time of uncertainty, whether it’s from communities donating food, money and resources to those that need it or from businesses using their technology to manufacture personal protective equipment,” stated Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “This action from Meijer will help us protect frontline workers and slow the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan. I’m proud to work with Meijer and every business that steps up during this time to protect Michigan families.”

Related:UPDATE: Walmart, Kroger, Hy-Vee, Giant go with one-way aisles to combat coronavirus

Overall, Meijer operates 248 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

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About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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