Prior to 2020, Corporate Socially Responsible (CSR) events were pandemic-free, face to face, and hands-on experiences that brought companies together physically (without masks or sanitizer) for team building activities while in tandem serving the community. A company’s morale was raised and cheer was delivered to persons who could really benefit from the team building activity. Everybody won. But how do you get through hospital doors during a pandemic when even relatives and other guests aren’t allowed?

At Cheeriodicals, we didn’t dwell on who couldn’t receive gifts but rather those that so desperately needed some relief during the initial days of COVID19 and could receive some cheer. Those on the frontlines of the pandemic—Hospital Heroes— were where we turned our focus. While we couldn’t deliver them in person, the gifts could be quarantined until deemed “safe” and delivered by key hospital staff members. Those Cheeriodicals still brightened the recipient’s day.

While shipping to our new segment of deserving recipients became obvious, what was not obvious was how to virtually assemble the Cheeriodicals that our clients could send. While pivoting with the rest of the world and learning more about the virus, we began to see that families quarantined at home were having more time together. We thought – why not make the assembly of our gifts an activity that everyone could participate in while making a memory? That idea, mirrored with the technology of video conferencing platforms brought the idea to reality. Since the world’s ability to connect in-person changed in early March this year, Cheeriodicals, along with our clients, have managed to virtually assemble and deliver thousands of boxes and bags of cheer across the country to Veterans and Children’s Hospitals, Hospital Heroes (frontline healthcare workers), and Assisted Care facilities. We still continue to evolve as we wait for a vaccine, but until then we will absolutely continue to find ways to deliver cheer in this most challenging time in recent history.