By Rebecca McPhail

A new hashtag is making its way around some social media circles: #CreatorsRespond. This is identifying the growing population of stories about American manufacturers that are transforming their operations to help meet the need for a variety of health and safety products in the fight against COVID-19.

CreatorsRespond is a people-led, digital campaign with a focus on mobilizing thousands of manufacturing advocates to show that COVID-19 cannot be fought successfully without the help of all manufacturers.

In West Virginia, our manufacturers have embraced this challenge to help their fellow Americans. The West Virginia Manufacturers Association could not be prouder of the creators in our state who are responding to the call for innovation in the face of a global crisis. Companies large and small are reconfiguring their plant operations to produce everything from hand sanitizer and protective gear to potentially life-saving medications. Everyone is working hard to help the health care community treat patients and protect themselves from COVID-19.

At the same time, many companies and their dedicated workers are donating time and resources to address food insecurity for school children and families, while others are supporting West Virginia’s restaurant community by providing meals for first responders and health care workers who are putting in long, stressful hours day and night.

From stories about multinational companies like General Motors and Ford, which are retooling their plants to produce ventilators, to local family-owned manufacturers who are making an impact locally, the #CreatorsRespond list is growing every day. Below is a sampling of the ingenuity and philanthropy of West Virginia companies that are helping in the COVID-19 fight:

Appalachian Distillery, Mountain State Distillery, Smooth Ambler and Dow’s Union Carbide facility have converted their production lines to produce hand sanitizer. Dow also has committed $3 million to helping communities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

City Neon in Morgantown, which has been making neon signs since 1963, is changing course to manufacture face shields for front-line health care workers.

In addition to donating personal protective equipment, Mylan Pharmaceuticals is restarting production of an anti-malaria medication, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, that is under study as a potential treatment for the COVID-19 virus.

The Clorox Company Foundation is donating $5 million to organizations on the front lines of fighting coronavirus. The donations will go directly toward “care for the caregivers” — people who are working with these public health organizations on the front lines to support public health.

Justice Glass & Supply is making sneeze guards and medical exam boxes for health care workers.
ND Paper has donated 1,500 Tyvek suits and 30,000 surgical masks to West Virginia health care providers.
The First Energy Foundation is donating $500,000 to 42 local food banks and hunger centers in communities in four states and will accelerate approximately $1.5 million in matching contributions to 116 United Way agencies throughout the company’s service territory.

As more creators respond with their unique contribution to battling COVID-19, the WVMA will keep telling their stories on our social media platforms. I encourage everyone to look for #CreatorsRespond online and like/share those stories to recognize what American manufacturers are doing to help this country face an invisible enemy and emerge victorious.

Rebecca McPhail is the president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association.