Erlanger, KY — Firefighters, EMTs, police officers and hospital workers surrounding Perfetti Van Melle USA, Inc.’s Erlanger, KY, headquarters as well as in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, received donations boxes with assorted Airheads and Mentos products, the candymaker reports.

“This COVID-19 first responder effort was an extension of our ongoing commitment to our community where we live and work,” Perfetti Van Mell USA President and CEO Sylvia Buxton tells Candy & Snack TODAY. “We believe we have an obligation to help our community thrive by sharing our skills, our energy and our resources with those in need. We support many organizations in our community throughout the year, including an annual Community Day when we close our entire business for a day while teams of our employees take on projects in support of various non-profit organizations in our area.”

Buxton personally helped deliver donations, which surprised recipients and made them feel appreciated, according to the company, which received a video of gratitude from Erlanger Fire and EMTs Department.

“We’ve been doing these special deliveries to first responders in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area since the COVID-19 pandemic began to simply thank them for all they do for us,” Buxton says. “Our hope is to provide a few moments of joy during this difficult time. It’s part of who we are at Perfetti Van Melle — this community is where our employees live and work — and all our employees enjoy these moments of giving back to the community.”

In addition to the donations, Perfetti Van Melle arrange a face mask “swap” with St. Elizabeth, a large medical provider in Northern Kentucky. The candymaker was able to tap its global supply chain to source R95 masks for front-line health workers, and in turn the hospital gave Perfetti Van Melle disposable surgical masks it needed as part of its comprehensive COVID-19 health and safety protection for employees, the candymaker tells Candy & Snack TODAY. Further, St. Elizabeth’s medical team helped train Perfetti employees on the proper use and application of the surgical masks.

“Our teams came together just in time as St. Elizabeth had less than a two day supply left of the masks they needed,” Holly Ingram, communications manager, explains. “They estimated the R95 mask they got from Perfetti will last them about 20 days, maybe longer.”