GREEN, Ohio — A tech company in Green is challenging and rewarding its employees for doing acts of kindness during the pandemic.
New Innovations, a software and service provider for medical education institutions, started a Community Caring Initiative to help neighbors in need in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Company owners Steven and Denise Reed are offering to reimburse employees up to $50 to assist with relief efforts.
Steve Reed said he came up with the idea a few weeks ago after buying and delivering groceries for his church and some of his neighbors.
"It feels wonderful giving," he said. "It's not the receiving. It's the giving of those things and I felt and my family felt personally. I would like others to feel that way," he said.
With 80 employees, the owners could potentially pay out $4,000. However, Reed said some employees are turning down the reimbursement offer and instead matching or exceeding the company's donation.
Some of the good deeds have included making protective shields for hospital workers in a local hospital, donating money to the Battered Women's Shelter and food banks, or grocery shopping for someone who has lost a job.
Employee Matt Jackson bought and delivered groceries to his girlfriend's grandparents who are home bound.
"Her grandpa had a stroke a few years back and her grandma has been taking care of him day and night 24/7 for the last couple of years," Jackson said. "When I thought I could help someone, they came right to mind."
Jackson, 23, believes all of the help from New Innovations employees can make a huge difference since so many people feel a loss of control right now.
"If I had only one message, probably little, small acts are kind of gonna be what gets us all through this I think. It doesn't have to be grand," he said.
Reed hopes the ideas spreads throughout Northeast Ohio.
"I'd like to challenge other companies, so maybe we can get one to many and try to help a lot more people, not just from our own company, but let's make this larger."
