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MIAMI (May 6, 2019) – Goodwill South Florida has converted a portion of its sewing operations to manufacture 20,000 masks for employees at Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a global transportation and logistics company, to wear as they support the flow of essential goods and services needed in the fight against COVID-19.
“James Ryder was one of three founders of Goodwill some 60 years ago, so when we got the call from Ryder asking if we could help produce scarce personal protective equipment for their employees, we immediately sprang into action,” said David Landsberg, CEO of Goodwill South Florida.
It’s also fitting because just last year, when Goodwill celebrated its 60th anniversary, the two partners announced a multi-year partnership and established the “Ryder Apparel Manufacturing Division” at Goodwill South Florida’s headquarters. Inside the facility, people with disabilities and other barriers to employment typically manufacture U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force uniforms, as well as interment flags for military veterans.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the operations have been shuttered, but Goodwill recently opened a portion of its production capabilities to produce much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for local hospitals and frontline workers. The masks for Ryder are made with camouflage on the outside, a softer fabric on the inside, and elastic ear loops.
“The men and women of Ryder are working day and night to make sure the essential products and services get to where they need to be for all of us and our families during this challenging time,” said Heather Gatley, VP & Deputy General Counsel for Ryder, and a member of the board of directors for Goodwill South Florida. “We are thankful for the expertise of Goodwill in being able to quickly ramp up their sewing operations to make face masks to further protect the health and safety of our truck drivers, warehouse workers, technicians in the shop, and rental counter employees.”
Goodwill South Florida is taking measures to ensure the safety of the employees who are working to produce PPE by having the facilities sanitized regularly, placing sewing machines at a distance of six feet apart, and installing vinyl partitions between work stations. Also, staff nurses take daily temperatures and provide masks and hand sanitizers to each dedicated Goodwill employee entering the facility.
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About Goodwill South Florida
Goodwill South Florida, serving Miami, Broward and Monroe counties, is the 17th largest employer in South Florida. The nonprofit’s mission is training, employment and job placement for people with disabilities and other barriers to work, helping individuals increase productivity and achieve greater independence. The agency provides disability services to over 7,000 South Floridians. Goodwill engages in a unique social enterprise model that funds mission services and employment for over 3,100 persons. Although most known for its Goodwill donation centers and retail stores, the organization’s other entrepreneurial businesses include Ryder Apparel Manufacturing, Custodial Services , Laundry Services and Third Party Logistics Solutions, which train and employ a large number of people, while providing mission funding. Goodwill South Florida is one of the most cost-effective non-profits in the U.S with 96 percent of its budget going directly to programs that are aimed at people with disabilities and other barriers to work. For more information, please visit goodwillsouthflorida.org or our newsroom and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter and tags us @GoodwillSFL.
About Ryder System, Inc.
Ryder is a Fortune 500® commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions company. The company’s stock (NYSE: R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the S&P MidCap 400® index. Ryder, which provides commercial truck rental, truck leasing, used trucks for sale, and last mile delivery services, has been named among “The World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune, as well as one of “America’s Best Employers” and “America’s Best Employers for Women” by Forbes, and most recently as one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” by Newsweek. The company is regularly recognized for its industry-leading practices in third-party logistics, environmentally friendly fleet and supply chain solutions, world-class safety and security programs, and hiring of military veterans. For more information, visit www.ryder.com or our newsroom, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
For Information Contact:
Goodwill South Florida Ryder System, Inc.
Janette Vazquez Jonathan Mayor
305.929.9773 305.500.3161
janette@thinksbsg.com jonathan_c_mayor@ryder.com
