The Importance of Giving Back During Covid-19
As the fears and uncertainty mount during this pandemic, it can be important to remind ourselves of what is really important in life. Many companies have gotten creative in the ways they have found to give back to their communities.
We are New Jersey landscape company serving private residences, apartment complexes, corporate parks, and logistics centers, we began to brainstorm how we could help and encourage the people on the front lines of the virus by doing what we do best—bringing beauty with plants. While other companies such as restaurants are delivering food to the healthcare workers in their community, the “no-detail-left-behind” mentality at Outdoor Digs drove us to seek out what we could do to bring some joy to the people who are serving day in and day out.
Donating thousands of plants to St. Barnabas Ambulatory Center in Livingston, NJ, we spelled out the word HEROES there for the people who are coming and going to enjoy. St. Barnabas is one of the nation’s most sophisticated ambulatory health hospitals with the latest state of the art medical treatments focused on compassionate care. Their focus is on keeping their community healthy and during this pandemic they are tirelessly doing just that. This is why we wanted to give back to the healthcare workers in a way that would be lasting.
At a second location, Atlantic Health of Morristown, we once again donated thousands of flowers to spell out the word HEROES for the relentless healthcare providers. A nationally-recognized leader in cardiology, orthopedics, nursing, critical care and geriatrics, Atlantic Health provides acute care as a Level 1 Trauma Center. Because they have shifted the focus of their care to those suffering from Covid-19, Outdoor Digs wanted to recognize all of the workers who are making a difference as true heroes of our time.
As a business that has been deemed essential, Outdoor Digs has continued to keep the lawns and landscapes in top shape during the pandemic. We know that when people return to work, it can be critical to be greeted with a beautiful landscape that can help to set their minds at ease as they reenter the work world.
Flowers and plants and fresh, green grass are not just pretty and decorative but they can actually help to improve mental health. This uncertain virus has left many people feeling incredibly stressed and rightly so, but flowers have a unique way of making people feel happy. Studies show that simply having flowers around can make people feel more calm and centered and that hospital patients tend to feel less stressed with flowers in the room.
The green of the leaves and stems is a calming color and this can also contribute to an improved feeling of well-being. When flowers have a delightful smell, this calming feeling increases.
Because we value sustainability in our landscape practices, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the planet. Now the healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic can be reminded of the appreciation and sacrifice that their community knows they have made as they come and go to work each day and we are proud to have a part in saying thank-you.