000 - Global Heroes - Special Edition

SPECIAL EDITION

The World Honors our

FRONTLINE Cash, Concerts, and Soup

HEROES

How Celebrities Are Doing Their Part Amid COVID-19

Musical Charity CAPTAIN TOM

RAISES 29

MILLION Single issue $9.99

Kind Canadians Start "CAREMONGERING” Trend

The power of positive, solution-based journalism.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

16 Musical Charity: Singers Join the Fight Against COVID-19

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The World Cheers on Essential Workers Clapping for Carers. The World Cheers on Essential Workers

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Torn between duty and fear - an Italian doctor fights coronavirus

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Penguin Chicks Hatch At Chester Zoo (And Keepers Name Them After NHS Heroes)

CELEBRITY HEROES

08 Captain Tom raises 29 million

10 Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, the faces of COVID-19, will donate blood to help find a vaccine

12 Cash, Concerts, and Soup: How Celebrities Are Doing Their Part Amid COVID-19

CORPORATE HEROES

36 Food trucks start feeding big rig drivers at Interstate rest stops

YOUTH HERO

20 Now Is The Time: 5 Corporations Joining the Fight Against COVID-19

24 Purpose over profit - are B-Corps the future of sustainable business?

EVERYDAY HEROES

28 Kind Canadians Start "Caremongering" Trend to Spread Goodwill During Coronavirus Pandemic

30 A homeless hero brings sandwiches and love to the homeless of Houston

32 Inspired by Mother Teresa, Kenyan safari operator feeds 24,000 families

34 Singapore's 'hooligan cook' offers free meals for needy during virus lockdown

38 Coronavirus a chance to choose a new path, says climate activist Greta Thunberg

FEATURES

40 With tires and rice bags, Cuba's athletes invent home workouts

42 'We'll be a history project': children in the U.S. talk about the coronavirus

44 Farmers prosper in pandemic as Americans shop local

46 FINCA Canada Launches ‘Text to Give’ Campaign to Help Low-Income Female Entrepreneurs Survive the Pandemic.

48 How Quarantine in my Childhood Home Brought my Family Closer

SPECIAL EDITION

Letter from the editor

Denise Koprich Shirazi For so many of us, COVID-19 has transformed our lives and altered the way we do things, possibly forever. Gathering with neighbours, friends, and loved ones has been put on hold. We are forced to adapt and make fundamental changes to the way we complete even the simplest of tasks in our daily lives. Education, shopping and even visits to the doctor have gone completely virtual, while other industries have been forced to shut down. Our social, political, and economic systems have all been disrupted, and the lingering effects of this pandemic are uncertain.

Despite all of this, there are always upsides. Providing a dose of positivity is what we do best at Global Heroes.

While we reflect on the challenges this virus brought to communities globally, we also realize it has brought us closer together in ways we never thought possible.

We used to believe we needed to be moving in order to be considered productive. Since being ordered to stay home, many of us are finding ourselves realigning our priorities.

Long-distance conversations with family and friends, often restricted to birthdays or holidays, are now more frequent. Complete strangers are sending uplifting letters to the elderly who live alone and are otherwise forgotten. Animal rescue organizations are reporting a surge in demand for rescue dogs and cats. And, citizens across the globe have participated in beautiful gestures of gratitude for the many everyday heroes whose capes are invisible and who are often taken for granted.

Celebrities are also doing their part, giving both their money and their time to individuals and organizations in need. Some are shy about their good deeds, and often keep them private. But, we have been tracking a few to shine a light on.

Scientists around the world are working diligently to create a vaccine. While the world waits in anticipation of a huge win, it is the little wins that are making a difference on an everyday basis. We hope that as you flip through the pages of our special COVID-19 edition, your spirits are lifted, and your heart is full.

Stay Safe. Stay Well.

Kindly, Denise Koprich Shirazi Editor In Chief

Cover Photo © istockphoto/andresr.com

PUBLISHER Amir Shirazi EDITOR IN CHIEF Denise Koprich Shirazi EDITOR Raye Mocioiu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sergio D. Spadavecchia FINANCE DIRECTOR Marie Lavoie CONTRIBUTORS Darren Jackson, Alex Carter SALES DIRECTOR Jaqueline Stewart ADVERTISING Adam West Natasha Fardoust Nazeela Ahmed PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Susan Mestchian HEADQUARTERS 2020 Winston Park Drive Suite 200 Oakville, Ontario – L6H 6X7 Office: 905-815-1500 info@globalheroes.com

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Š Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

New York, NY

Clapping for Carers: The World Cheers on Essential Workers

All around the world, people have been sharing their appreciation for the essential workers still operating during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Whether by leaning out of car windows, clapping from balconies, or banging pots and pans, the public wants to show their gratitude for the workers who routinely put their lives at risk to resume essential services. This is how three major cities show their appreciation for the tireless efforts of essential workers.

NEW YORK, USA One Thursday in New York, these acts of gratitude led to a rousing collective rendition of the Bill Withers 1972 song "Lean on Me," organized by the Peace of Heart Choir nonprofit in New York City.

The event, which happens weekly, is called 'New York Sings Along' and is meant to boost morale and honor workers on the front lines of COVID-19.

Robert Hornsby, director of fundraising at the choir, said that the weekly sing-alongs have boosted the energy and lifted the spirits of New Yorkers. Grateful citizens get the chance to share the healing power of music while maintaining a safe social distance.

Each week, the nonprofit selects a positive, well-known song and plays it after the applause for essential workers - from Frank Sinatra's "New York" to the Ben E. King classic "Stand by Me." It brings joy to the hearts of many to know that as long as there is a song to sing, New Yorkers will be there to sing it.

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LONDON, ENGLAND

The collective applause has become a weekly ritual in Britain since it first took place in late March. Prime Minister Johnson had not been seen publicly taking part since before he was taken to hospital due to COVID-19 on April 5th, where he spent three nights in intensive care.

© Reuters/Carl Recine

The applause continues in London, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined in on the nationwide round of applause after battling the deadly virus in early April. The crowd also gathered on April 30th to celebrate the 100th birthday of war veteran Tom Moore, who raised over £30 million for the NHS. London, England

"Tonight, I proudly clapped outside 10 Downing Street for our fantastic NHS and carers. Thank you all for everything you are doing," Johnson said on Twitter shortly after the applause. © Reuters/Kevin Coombs

His fiancee, Carrie Symonds, also paid tribute to key workers, tweeting, "Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero Captain Tom Moore a very happy birthday."

London, England

TORONTO, CANADA In Toronto, a line of TTC and GO buses paraded down University Avenue, locally known as Hospital Row, to salute frontline healthcare workers.

"They put their life in jeopardy every day coming down and assisting others and ensuring that we're all saved. We're tremendously thankful for that," TTC duty station manager Christan Maglieri told CP24.

© Reuters/Carlos Osorio

Marching south from Queen's Park Circle, down University Avenue, the parade passed by several Toronto hospitals. The parade included nearly 20 buses, special constable units, and Wheel-Trans vehicles, all decorated with red and white balloons and handmade posters thanking frontline workers. On the front of each bus, the banner used to indicate the bus route was changed to read, "Thank You Health Care Workers."

Toronto, ON

This is the second parade in Toronto to honor frontline workers.

Earlier in April, another parade was held by Toronto Mayor John Tory, who marched along with the city's first responders to pay tribute to healthcare workers on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. Across Canada, grateful citizens lean out of their windows and on their balconies to cheer and clap for the ongoing efforts of essential workers.

In every city, there is a celebration of the workers who do not have the choice to stay at home and shelter-in-place. Vendors, food-service workers, transit operators, and the like routinely risk their lives for the safety and livelihood of others. So, here’s to all the workers keeping us safe! We salute you, we appreciate you, and we thank you.

—Source: Reuters

Vanessa Koprich and Stacy Sartor

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TORN BETWEEN DUTY AND FEAR AN ITALIAN DOCTOR FIGHTS CORONAVIRUS

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All Photos © Lorenzo Marianelli via REUTERS

The 35-year-old works long shifts on the front line at the Cisanello Hospital emergency ward in the Tuscan city of Pisa, famous for the 14th-century leaning tower which was completed about 25 years after the plague ravaged Europe.

She doesn't feel like a hero although she appreciates why Italians have put her and her colleagues on that pedestal - and she is not afraid to say that she is, well, afraid.

Each time she enters the coronavirus ward, which is sealed off from the rest of the hospital, she asks herself: "Why am I doing this?"

The quick answer is "certainly not for the money," she said in a video about their

home life made for Reuters by her husband Lorenzo Marianelli.

and eating in separate areas of the kitchen, follows her like a dark shadow.

"I do it for the patients because they have no choice. I do it only for them and also for all my other colleagues ... We are not heroes and we are afraid too," she said.

"I feel dirty and so I am not comfortable dealing with people. If I meet someone on the street I am afraid. If I meet a neighbour while going down the stairs, I run away," she said.

Nearly 16,000 people have died in Italy from the coronavirus as of Sunday, a quarter of the global death total.

"When I come home from the hospital I take a shower but I don't feel (clean), it never seems enough to me," she said.

Bartalena says the fear travels home with her to the small apartment she shares with Lorenzo, 37, a musician, and their four-yearold daughter Petra.

Bartalena said she is nostalgic for the days when being a doctor meant having an interpersonal relationship with a patient and families, having time to talk them through difficult decisions and, if needed, prepare them for the worst.

"If Petra hugs me, I am terrorised that after 15 days she may get ill or if I hear (Lorenzo) coughing, I think it's my fault. So I have to try to rationalise the situation and think that I am doing it for a greater good," she said.

The fear that she might infect someone else despite precautions such as sleeping in separate rooms, using separate bathrooms

"All these things no longer exist," she said.

"Now, we just make a phone call to relatives, they hear my voice telling them 'they are sick and there's nothing more that can be done' and they just don't believe it".

—Reuters

© Cecilia Bartalena via REUTERS

Cecilia Bartalena, a doctor treating coronavirus victims, lives in terror - torn between the oath she has taken to heal the sick and the fear that she might infect the people she loves.

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PENGUIN CHICKS

HATCH AT CHESTER ZOO

CHESTER ZOO/Handout via REUTERS

(And Keepers Name Them After NHS Heroes)

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Five fluffy penguin chicks have hatched at Chester Zoo – and zookeepers have named them after NHS Heroes and hospitals.

The first of the tiny new arrivals - highly threatened Humboldt penguins - arrived on 26 March, closely followed by several others, the last of which emerged from its egg on 14 April. To help them keep track of the new chicks, conservationists at the zoo select a different naming theme for the youngsters each year.

Previous years’ topics have included brands of crisps, chocolate bars, and British Olympic athletes.

This year, keepers have recognized the amazing work of the UK’s NHS Heroes and have decided to pay homage to NHS Heroes and the hospitals where they work. The five chicks have been named Florence (after Florence Nightingale), Thomas (after St Thomas’ Hospital), Bevan (after Aneurin Bevan who founded the NHS), Arrowe (after Arrowe Park Hospital) and finally Countess (named after the zoo’s local hospital – the Countess of Chester Hospital).

The new chicks will spend the first eight weeks of life tucked away in their nests, with both mum and dad sharing parenting duties and caring for them. Anne Morris, the Lead Penguin Keeper at Chester Zoo, said: “The arrival of Humboldt penguin chicks always signals the start of spring and, although it’s still early days, the chicks look really healthy and the parents are doing a fab job of caring for their new arrivals.

“To help with raising the new youngsters, we’re providing the parents some extra fish, which they swallow, churn into a high-protein soup and then regurgitate to feed the chicks. We also weigh the chicks regularly so that we can monitor their development, as they can more than triple in size and weight in the first three weeks!

“Each year the team chooses a new naming theme for the chicks and, given everything that is happening around us, we decided to name this year’s class after NHS hospitals in acknowledgment of our wonderful NHS Heroes – just as a thank you from everyone here at the zoo.”

Humboldt penguins are becoming increasingly rare. They are the most at risk of the world’s 17 penguin species and are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

These penguins, found on the rocky shores of Peru and Chile, face a number of threats, from climate change to overfishing of their natural food sources. The changes to their livelihood cause them to have to stray far from their nests to search for food, increasing their vulnerability.

Their presence is a wonderful way to ring in the spring season and pay tribute to the tireless efforts of NHS heroes.

—Reuters

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'CAPTAIN TOM,' 100,

releases fundraising single while helping open hospital after raising

$29 MILLION

Moore will praise National Health Service (NHS) workers via video link at the opening of a new "Nightingale" hospital in Harrogate, northern England, which is being set up to help deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

The World War Two veteran, who completed his challenge on Thursday, had raised 23.35 million pounds ($29.21 million) by 1606 GMT on Saturday.

Moore said he was honoured to be opening the hospital and to have the chance to thank NHS workers directly.

All Photos Š Ministry of Defence/Crown Copyright 2020/Handout via REUTER

Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old British war veteran who has raised more than $29 million for the health service by walking 100 laps of his garden, will be a guest of honor at the opening of a new field hospital next week.

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"I am still amazed by the amount of kindness and generosity from the UK public who continue to give despite it being an uncertain time for many," Moore said in a statement.

"I think the amount raised demonstrates just how much we all value the dedication and sacrifices made by our NHS workers. I have fought during a war, and they are now fighting in a war too."

Moore, who has used a walking frame with wheels since breaking his hip, set himself the target of walking the 25 meters around his garden 100 times before his 100th birthday on April 30.

His original target was 1,000 pounds, but that modest aim was blown away as media attention from around the globe zoomed in on his garden in Bedfordshire, central England.

The retired army captain also added another title to his belt, becoming the oldest person to top Britain’s music chart in a fundraising single with singer Michael Ball.

The cover version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" that he appears on was on course to be pipped by The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ until the Canadian star asked his fans on Twitter to support Moore's record instead.

"What wonderful news to receive today, a No.1 single and a record breaker too – my grandchildren can’t believe I am a chart-topper,"

the 99-year-old - who turns 100 on April 30 - told BBC Radio 1's Scott Mills.

He is in the running to be Britain's "Sports Personality of the Year" and has been hailed as an "absolute legend" by Queen Elizabeth's grandson, Prince William.

He has said the walk was inspired by the care he received from Britain's state-run National Health Service when he broke his hip and when he was treated for cancer.

"On behalf of the NHS our heartfelt thanks go to Captain Tom Moore for his remarkable fundraising efforts for NHS charities, and to the public for their generosity in supporting him and our staff," Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said.

"Inviting Captain Moore to be our guest of honor at the opening of NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and Humber is the least we can do to thank him for his inspiring service and example, and no doubt there will be further ways in which we will be able to express our gratitude."

—Source: Reuters A via Reuters Birthday cards for Captain Tom Moore in the Great Hall of Bedford School, Bedfordshire, where over 120,000 birthday cards sent from around the world are being opened and displayed by the staff.

Captain Moore celebrates his 100th birthday on Thursday.

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TOM HANKS and RITA WILSON, the faces of COVID-19, will donate blood to help find a vaccine

A

fter battling coronavirus earlier this year, the two Hollywood legends plan to donate plasma to try and help fight the global pandemic. Being the first celebrities to come out with the news of their diagnosis, they have become the unofficial “faces of COVID-19.”

Speaking in an NPR podcast, Hanks said: "A lot of the questions are, what do we do now? Is there something we can do? And, in fact, we just found out that we do carry the antibodies. We have not only been approached, we’ve said, 'Do you want our blood? Can we give plasma?' In fact, we will be giving it now to the places that hope to work on what I would like to call the 'Hank-ccine.'"

The 63-year-old actor previously revealed that Rita struggled with coronavirus more than he did, as she had a "much-higher fever" than him, as well as other symptoms.

"She got absolutely no joy from food for a better part of three weeks.

She was so nauseous, she had to crawl on the floor from the bed to the facilities. It lasted a while," he said.

He added: Whoever it was, doctor, nurse, would come into our air-pressurized room, our isolation rooms. She said, 'How are you feeling?' and I said, 'I just had the weirdest thing. I just tried to do basic stretches and exercises on the floor and I couldn't even get halfway through. And she looked at me through her glasses like she was talking to the dumbest human being. And she said, 'You have COVID-19.'"

Recently, the 'Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' actor wrote a kind note to eight-year-old Corona De Vries after the young Australian sent him a letter.

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In his letter, Corona wrote: "I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus. Are you OK? "I love my name but at school, people call me 'the coronavirus.' I get very sad and angry when people call me this."

Hanks sent a letter replying to his new friend and also included a Corona-brand typewriter, which he'd used while recovering.

He wrote: "Dear Friend Corona, Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful! Thank you for being such a good friend - friends make friends feel good when they are down. You are the only person I've ever known to have the name Corona - like the ring around the sun, a crown.

"I saw you on TV, even though I was back in the USA already and all healthy. Even though I was no longer sick, getting your letter made me feel even better. I thought this typewriter would suit you. I had taken it to the Gold Coast, and now, it is back with you."

The actor, who famously has a huge collection of typewriters, urged Corona to continue their correspondence with the device.

He added: "Ask a grown-up how it works. And use it to write me back."

And the actor ended the letter with a reference to the theme to his movie 'Toy Story'.

He wrote: "PS! You got a friend in ME!" —Source: Reuters

© Reuters/Show Biz

Being the first celebrities to come out with the news of their diagnosis, they have become the unofficial “faces of COVID-19.”

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GLOBAL HEROES

BY RAYE MOCIOIU

Cash, Concerts, and Soup: How Celebrities Are Doing Their Part Amid COVID-19 P!NK Donates Homemade Soup to Local Shelter

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Š Sakura/WENN.com

In times of crisis, fans turn to their favourite celebrities for a guiding light and glimmer of hope. With their sizeable audiences and powerful online platforms, celebrities and public figures have the opportunity to spread messages of safety and kindness, while advocating for important causes. Now, amid the on-going coronavirus pandemic, high-profile celebrities are using their notoriety to raise awareness for and donate to charities and programs fighting the spread of the virus. From large donations, to organized benefits, to homemade meals, these celebrities are showing their heroism in a multitude of ways.

Pop-rock star P!nk shared a photo on her Instagram of a stack of containers filled with homemade vegetable soup, which she revealed was to be donated to her local shelter. She said that it is her pleasure to cook for others, and encouraged her fans to do the same for their local churches or shelters.

P!nk recently went public regarding her own battle with the virus, which she and her 3-year-old son both contracted, and have since recovered from. In an Instagram post detailing her symptoms, she stressed to fans the importance of staying home and practicing social distancing during this time.

She also revealed two sizable donations of $500,000 each; one to the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia, and one to the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund. By donating her time, her money and her platform to advocate for safety and kindness, P!nk is truly a philanthropic hero.

Lady Gaga

© Reuters/Bang Showbiz

Pop queen Lady Gaga has been relentless in her efforts to raise awareness and funds to support those affected by the virus.

The singer spent her birthday, at the end of March, in talks with the WHO about the best way to spread awareness and help fight the spread. Most recently, Lady Gaga collaborated with Global Citizen and the WHO to curate a star-studded charity benefit. The at-home concert featured celebrities like Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Andrea Bocelli, Oprah Winfrey, and more.

While the aim of the concert was to raise awareness and spread positive messaging, more than $127 million was raised for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 solidarity response fund!

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LIONEL MESSI AND PEP GUARDIOLA Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has donated one million euros ($1.08 million) to the fight against coronavirus.

His donation will be split between the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona and another medical center in his home country.

© IPA/WENN.com

© Reuters/Albert Gea

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola took his donation to a campaign launched by the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation, which aims to collect materials and financial support to obtain medical equipment that is lacking in Catalonia medical centers.

ANDREA BOCELLI World-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed a special concert at Italy’s historic Duomo di Milano this past Easter Sunday. The performance, entitled “Bocelli: Music for Hope” was accompanied by cathedral organist Emanuele Vianelli, and performed over live-stream due to the lockdown in Italy.

The singer’s Andrea Bocelli Foundation has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Italian hospitals purchase supplies to protect medical staff from the virus.

At the time of writing, he has also raised €256,798 of his €300,000 goal.

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© Reuters/Bang Showbiz

MICHAEL CHE Saturday Night Live cast member Michael Che has paid the rent for all 160 apartments in the block his late grandmother lived in. Che’s grandmother passed last month, after contracting the novel coronavirus. In her memory, the star has decided to ease the financial pressure on some New York residents during a time when many are out of work and unable to keep up. Che also urged the city of New York to do more about the rent crisis, offering his own services as well.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively

© Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA

Ever the philanthropists, Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds have made multiple donations since the start of the global pandemic. Back in March, the couple donated $1 million, split between Food Banks Canada and Feeding America. Most recently, the couple donated $400,000 to New York hospitals amid the on-going pandemic. They are reportedly donating $100,000 to Elmhurst, NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai, and Northern Westchester Hospital.

—Source: Reuters

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© Reuters/Mike Blake

MUSICAL CHARITY:

SINGERS JOIN

THE FIGHT

AGAINST COVID-19

Music has a way of uniting people and creating a sense of community. Now, more than ever, the support of a worldwide community is just what we need. Celebrities and public figures around the world are joining the fight against the coronavirus by making charitable donations and advocating for organizations that are doing their part to battle the spread.

Musicians are helping out, too, by doing what they do best, uniting their fans through music. Performers all around the world are releasing fundraising singles to round up donations for organizations like the National Health Service in the United Kingdom and the World Health Organization.

Even charity hero and war veteran Captain Tom Moore has joined in, becoming the oldest person to top Britain’s music charts. The centenarian appeared on Michael Ball’s cover of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” raising money for the National Health Service (NHS) Charities Together.

From Ariana Grande to rock band Queen, these philanthropic musicians are counting on fans to "play it forward" during the fight against COVID-19.

ARIANA GRANDE & JUSTIN BIEBER: Pop superstars Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande are teaming up on a charity single to benefit frontline workers.

The two stars will be collaborating for the first time on a duet that will fund scholarships for the children of health and emergency workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

© Reuters/Andrew Kelly

The duet, called "Stuck With U," was released on May 8, and all net proceeds from streaming and sales of the duet will be donated to the First Responders Children's Foundation. The donation will be used to fund grants and scholarships for the children of those working during the pandemic.

"We hope we make a big difference with this, and we hope it uplifts you and makes you feel happy," Grande said in a statement.

The single is the first in a series from Scooter Braun, who manages both singers, that will benefit charities during the year, Braun said.

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© Reuters/Bang Showbiz

AMANDA HOLDEN Across the pond, “Britain’s Got Talent” judge Amanda Holden has released her debut single, a cover of 'Over The Rainbow,' to raise funds for NHS Charities Together.

Holden had recorded a cover of Judy Garland's classic 'Over The Rainbow' from the 1939 movie 'The Wizard of Oz' for a project last year. She decided to release the recording as a charity single, as a way to give back to the British health service. She credits the NHS with not only saving her life, but

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also those of her family members over the years.

When asked about the song choice for her debut single, she said, "Life has taken a really funny turn, but one thing that I think has become really clear is that we are all in this together. More than ever, we've reconnected with love and hope during this time.”

Ellie Orton, the CEO at NHS Charities Together, said: "Everyone has their own

reasons to be grateful to the NHS and it is brilliant that Amanda has decided to use her profile and talents to raise money in support of the NHS staff, volunteers and patients who are dealing with the crisis right now.

"I love the message of hope in the song, and fingers crossed it will raise lots of money for the appeal."

'Over The Rainbow' is available to download now on all major streaming services.

© Reuters/Bang Showbiz

QUEEN & ADAM LAMBERT Queen and Adam Lambert have released 'You Are The Champions' to raise funds for the WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

"Just like our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents who fought for us in two world wars, those brave warriors in the front line are our new CHAMPIONS.

The fundraising rendition of the rock legends' iconic 1977 hit 'We Are The Champions' got its live debut during a performance on Instagram by guitarist Brian May. The lyrics of the classic song are changed to pay tribute to the healthcare workers and "frontline soldiers" around the world fighting to save lives amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"That means the doctors, nurses, cleaners, porters, drivers, tea-ladies and gentlemen, and all who are quietly risking their lives daily to save the lives of our kin.

CHAMPIONS ALL!!! (sic)"

Talking about the meaning behind the song, Brian May said: "It seems to me we should dedicate this one to all the frontline soldiers fighting for humanity against the insurgent coronavirus.

He said: "As a father with a daughter in the front line, I am ultra-aware of the vital work they are doing daily to save us and our society.

Drummer Roger Taylor's daughter Dr. Rory Taylor, a key NHS worker, is featured in the accompanying music video.

"Their bravery and sacrifice must not be prejudiced by anything less than one

hundred percent effort by our governments to protect them. They are precious to us all, and they are truly our champions."

Adam Lambert, who has been performing lead vocals in the place of late great frontman Freddie Mercury since 2011, added: "It is with the deepest gratitude to all those on the frontline all over the world that we dedicate our performance.

"Thank you for keeping us safe. We are in awe of your bravery and strength."

The charity rendition is fitting, considering Freddie Mercury originally wrote the anthem as a rallying cry to unite the world. What better way to round up the support of a nation coming together?

—Reuters

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NOW IS THE TIME

5 Corporations Joining the Fight Against COVID-19

In the age of the coronavirus, participating in goodwill ventures is no longer just the right thing to do; it’s a standard business practice. Companies and corporations that step up and show their support as global citizens have the opportunity to help those who need it most, and deepen their engagement with modern consumers. They challenge the status quo by filling in the gaps where they are needed and allow for the careful consideration of communities that need more help than they have access to. Here are 5 corporations that are leading and inspiring global change around the world.

Ford Motor Company American automaker Ford Motor Co. joined the emergency push for U.S. manufacturers to help produce the thousands of ventilators and respirators needed to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. The partnership project, called Project Apollo, included joining forces with General Electric motors and 3M CO., to produce the necessary equipment to support hospitals battling the spread.

Š Jeremy Chen

Using the model of GE Healthcare’s ventilator design, the two carmakers will join forces to expand the production, so that it is capable of supporting patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing. They are also working on a simpler design that Ford can produce at their plants.

Separately, Ford is working with United Auto Workers Union to test full-face shields for first responders, to be paired with N95 respirator masks. The ultimate goal is to create a design that others can adopt and use to make their own shields. By taking on countless projects to help produce necessary medical equipment, Ford is doing more than their part to show corporate heroism.

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Michelin Starred Restaurant, Tulus Lotrek This initiative, called “Cooking for Heroes,” aims to feed doctors, nurses, police officers, and firefighters who are not able to work from home during this time. The soups, curries, and other tasty meals are lovingly prepared by head chef Max Strohe and his staff, and they help sustain hundreds of medical workers as they treat patients with the virus.

via video message, which aired during the One World: Together At Home global broadcast special. “We must support all children, including the most vulnerable children in refugee settings, to ensure they continue to have access to education and develop skills critical for them to thrive in a constantly changing world. We are honored to collaborate and support Education Cannot Wait and our other partners who are working extremely hard in unforgiving circumstances to bring education, hope,

and a future to children everywhere.”

© UNICEF/Ethiopia/J.Ose

When Michelin-starred restaurant Tulus Lotrek, in Berlin, was forced to shut down due to the coronavirus lockdown, they knew there was more they could do. They decided to use their culinary skills to help feed the frontline heroes who did not have the option to work from home.

The Lego Foundation The Lego Foundation, a strategic partner of Education Cannot Wait, recently announced US$15 million in funding for ECW’s education in emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lego Foundation is the largest private sector donor to the Education Cannot Wait global fund for education in emergencies, with US$27.5 million in contributions to date.

John Goodwin, CEO of the Lego Foundation, announced the contribution

Yasmine Sherif, Director of Education Cannot Wait, also released a statement about the funding, saying: “ECW appreciates this generous contribution to help children and youth left furthest behind in armed conflicts, forced displacement, and natural disasters, who are now doubly affected by COVID-19.

There is no end in sight to how much these young souls have to suffer, and they must be our absolute priority.”

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Marriott Hotels and Resorts Marriott has committed to providing $10 million worth of hotel stays for healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 battle in the United States. The program, called Rooms for Responders, will provide free rooms for healthcare workers in cities like New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and more,

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where the spread of the virus is at its worst.

As well, Marriott has launched the Community Caregiver Program, in collaboration with its hotel owners and franchisee partners. This initiative will provide significantly discounted rates for first responders and healthcare workers who need

rooms close to the hospitals where they are needed. This program is available at nearly 2,500 hotels in the United States, Canada, Latin American, and the Caribbean.

“With both initiatives, our goal is simple – we want to support the frontline heroes who are selflessly supporting us.”

© Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR

While the NASCAR 2020 season may be interrupted, NASCAR has no plans to shut down. They have turned their high-tech Research & Development Center into a medical production center, manufacturing face shields with 3D printers and researching treatment supply options.

They’ve even inspired similar SportsCar companies to help out, like CORE Autosport, whose team shop is manufacturing thousands of facemasks to be distributed across the country. Technique Inc., a company that supplies chassis components to NASCAR, is also helping out by making face shields for medical distribution and has been producing 20,000 masks per day.

These are just a few of the many thoughtful and generous contributions and initiatives launched by corporate giants.

There are so many wonderful campaigns that aim to help both frontline workers and those directly impacted by coronavirus lockdowns. As we make strides toward the end of this pandemic, we hope to see companies keeping up this positive attitude and continuing to strive for global change.

—Source: Reuters

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GLOBAL HEROES

BY SARAH SHEARMAN

PURPOSE OVER PROFIT ARE B-CORPS THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS?

From fashion to finance, thousands of businesses have opted to be certified as B Corporations - those that balance profit with purpose committing to meet high standards on issues from the treatment of staff to environmental impact.

The concept, which began 14 years ago in the United States, is still small, but it is growing in popularity as business leaders move away from the long-held view that companies exist only to maximize profits for shareholders.

Last year, the number of B Corps swelled by 25% as businesses, including the American shoe brand TOMs and the Guardian Media Group, owner of the British newspaper, signed up.

Once largely made up of smaller businesses specifically set up to do good, the category now includes major global corporations such as yogurt giant Danone’s North America arm.

Brazilian beauty brand Natura, which owns Britain’s Body Shop, was the first publicly listed company to achieve the certification in 2014, blazing a trail for others.

“The achievement of certification was a proud moment for us,” said Luciana Villa Nova, Natura’s sustainability manager.

“In many ways, being a B Corp is an indication that we are on the right path towards sustainable

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development while generating consciousness of what we can make for society to progress.”

There are now 3,243 B Corps in 75 countries, from big multinationals such as French food and drinks giant Danone to smaller social enterprises like British coffee brand Cafédirect.

B Lab, the U.S. non-profit behind the certification, aims to jolt businesses into action - one of its stated aims is to help people tell the difference between good business and good marketing.

The relatively high cost and stringent requirements of becoming a B-Corp means it attracts companies with a genuine commitment, advocates say.

But some experts argue the scheme has neither the reach nor the authority to bring about change on a meaningful scale.

While the number of B Corps is growing, it is still a tiny proportion of the 27.5 million businesses in Europe, or about 5.9 million in the United States, according to government data.

“B Corp, whilst ethical and trying to do a good thing, might attract low-hanging fruit - those already socially, environmentally responsible, or those seeking a short-cut,” said Michael O’Regan, an academic who is researching B Corps.

It, therefore, is not the “force for radical change” required to tackle the world’s pressing problems, said O’Regan, senior lecturer at Bournemouth University.

© REUTERS-Andrew Winning

To B or not to B - a question ethicallyminded businesses around the world are increasingly asking themselves.

© Carl Heyerdahl

Businesses are scored on several factors, from how they treat workers to ethics and transparency and awarded a score out of 200 that is then made public.

Given the time and resources required to achieve certification – which costs between $500 and $50,000 annually - most companies are very committed, said Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab U.K. “Somebody could not be awarded the certification if they are not walking the talk,” he said.

company’s articles to include a commitment to social or environmental good.

This requirement is crucial in helping to separate companies that are “willing to talk a good game from those who are willing to put their money where their mouth is,” said Luke Fletcher, partner at Bates Wells, a London law firm and B Corp.

But it is not the only way that companies can measure and report their impact.

It also requires companies to make a legal change to the business to enshrine their commitment to their mission, which varies depending on where that company is based.

There are already many data companies that measure the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of companies using their own standards.

However, there is a movement to standardize settings.

For example, companies in the United States are required to reincorporate into the legal structure of a benefit corporation. In contrast, companies in Britain can rewrite a

The Global Reporting Initiative, an Amsterdam-based non-profit, for example, has been helping businesses report sustainability performance for 23 years.

Last year, more than 180 prominent chief executives in the United States signed a pledge stating that businesses must not only prioritize shareholders but do more to protect the environment, support communities, and invest in employees.

The European Union’s Non-Financial Reporting (NFR) Directive already requires certain large companies to report on their environmental or social impact annually.

O’Regan said this “alphabet soup” of sustainability standard-setters was a distraction and called for a standardized global regime.

“ESG responsibilities have gone global,” he said. “We need global answers and more mandatory reporting and disclosure regulations.”

— Reuters

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The power of positive, solution-based journalism.

Kind Canadians Start "Caremongering" Trend to Spread Goodwill During Coronavirus Pandemic Leave it to Canadians to set the standard for kindness during a global pandemic. What started as a way to help vulnerable people in metropolitan cities has now become a widespread "caremongering" movement across the country.

All over the world, kind people have been looking out for members of their communities who have been negatively impacted by the virus. From American musicians streaming free concerts online, to exercises classes held for quarantined residents on their balconies in Spain, times of crisis can

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often bring out the goodwill in people.

In Canada, Facebook groups have been set up in various cities and towns across the country, with hundreds of thousands of members between them. The acts of kindness are arranged online, with hashtags serving as a record of the good deeds happening across Canadian communities.

The groups are described as places "for sharing and organizing community resources in response to COVID-19."

The first group to begin "caremongering"

was started by Mita Hans, a social services worker, with the help of Valentina Harper.

"Scaremongering is a big problem," Hans told BBC News in March. "Caremongering has spread the opposite of panic in people, brought out community and camaraderie, and allowed us to tackle the needs of those who are at-risk all the time - now more than ever."

"We can't focus on the negative," Harper added. "The only way we can get out of this okay is by being kind to each other."

Š Alexander Dummer

BY RAYE MOCIOIU

© Andre Ouellet

© Santi Vedri

HOPE FOR HUMANITY The overwhelming number of Canadians joining the movement and starting local caremongering groups truly speaks to how much people want to be positive and hold onto hope.

"Anxiety, isolation, and lack of hope affects you. In providing this virtual community that allows people to help each other, I think it is really showing people there is still hope for humanity. We haven't lost our hope," Hans explained to BBC News.

As the global pandemic wages on, as have the Facebook groups, garnering a significant number of new members looking for community and a way to help. New posts are split into tags, making it easier to find and provide help, advice, or donations.

Under the hashtag “#NEED,” group members can find volunteers available to help them or their neighbors with tasks that they may be unable to do themselves, like an elderly couple in need of groceries, or volunteers needed for food distribution.

Other hashtags, like #iso or #discussion, provide group members with a way to ask questions about services and programs that may be available, or even get advice about issues they aren’t sure how to deal with. There’s even a hashtag for pets, where members can alert the group if their pets are missing, or find pets to rehome or foster.

The groups provide countless examples of good deeds, from a Halifax man in search of hand sanitizer, to a group of Torontonians

offering to cook meals for those who are unable. One of the most popular acts of kindness is to go to the supermarket or grocery store for those who cannot. Amid the panic in most major grocery stores, this one can be harder can it sounds.

Apart from the acts of kindness, the group also serves as a way for people to see goodwill in their communities. For those who do not need help or are unable to give it, the group is a way for community members to restore their faith in humanity and feel less alone.

One member told the BBC that the group's ability to "offer emotional support, share information," and "swap ideas of how to pass the time has been life-changing."

THE BUDDY SYSTEM One caremongering group in Oakville has implemented a new program, called the Buddy System, where each helper is paired with someone in need in their local community. The helper works with the individual in need to get groceries or provide other assistance, as needed. Like many other caremongering groups across Canada, the Caremongering: Oakville group, originally called Oakville Comes Together, was formed when locals felt helpless, looking for ways to spread hope and kindness in a difficult time.

The group now has almost 2,000 members, growing organically through the Oakville, Ontario community. The group promotes programs and aid organizations that

members can support (some that were already in place before the pandemic began), and individual services and requests. Local groups have also started initiatives, like the Message in a Bottle campaign, where members of all ages were encouraged to write letters or create artwork to send to isolated seniors in care homes.

“Most of our members focus on the little things that they can do on a daily basis to provide light in a dark time,” said group founder, Lori Sly. And provide light, they do. Outside of sharing advice and providing assistance, posts in the Caremongering: Oakville group show the true, neighborly spirit that is present in the town. One member, originally from Nova Scotia, shared that she felt hopeful after seeing painted rocks on a nearby trail with “hope,” “love,” and a drawing of a Nova Scotian lighthouse after the attacks in the province left many devastated.

“We have appreciated our group members’ commitment to positive, hopeful messaging and a shared vision to care for our community. A positive culture is difficult to maintain in crisis, but our community embraced this mantra wholeheartedly,” Sly said about the group. “We are honored to administrate this caring group and are proud to call Oakville home.”

While caremongering continues to grow across Canada, we hope to see similar groups arise around the rest of the world - kind hearts can certainly boost togetherness in a time of social isolation.

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All Photos Š REUTERS/Go Nakamura

A homeless hero brings sandwiches and love to the homeless of Houston

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Dominick SeJohn Walton spots a man with a shopping cart piled high with belongings and a sign that says "Homeless. Please Help" under a Texas highway overpass. With the coronavirus keeping many at home, the road is quieter than usual.

She hands him a plastic bag filled with a baloney and cheese sandwich, cookies, and applesauce. On the outside, she has written in permanent blue marker: 'God Bless. Jesus loves you. I love you!'

Walton knows what it is like to be homeless and hungry. She is currently living mainly in her car, sleeping at her sister's apartment in Houston sometimes.

"I started serving meals to the homeless because I understand what it's like not to know where your next meal is going to come from and that's the least that I feel like we can do for our community is to give back," said the 27-year-old.

Walton's car became her home after she became depressed following surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. She quit her job as a gas station cashier and is now living in the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, trying to save enough money to start a t-shirt business featuring her own designs.

She was recently hired by a non-profit organization that distributes meals to low-income families.

In many U.S. cities, homeless people are spending their nights on empty trains, or camping behind closed businesses and under deserted highways. Many fear to enter homeless shelters, where the coronavirus can spread fast.

Walton drives around and spots a man sitting on the ground.

"Hello sir," she calls out, her big smile hidden behind the surgical mask she wears. He does not respond, perhaps dozing, so she touches his elbow with her gloved hand to give him some food.

Walton buys the groceries herself or uses leftovers from her employer, making the bags in her sister's apartment, where her 1-year-old and 4-year-old nieces play.

When she is done for the day, she parks her car near a mall, park, or just a quiet neighborhood, propping her cellphone against the car window while she stretches out in the front seat.

Her dream: A t-shirt business so successful that she can give away even more food.

—Reuters

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All photos ŠREUTERS/Baz Ratner

Inspired by Mother Teresa, Kenyan safari operator feeds 24,000 families 32

Safari operator Pankaj Shah would normally be showing tourists around his native Kenya.

Instead, he is spearheading a volunteer effort to feed thousands of families left penniless due to the devasting coronavirus.

"One old woman told us she hadn't eaten for days - her sons had stopped supplying her because they have no work," he said, walking down a line of young men packing rice, flour, beans, and long-life milk into boxes.

Kenya reported its first case of the coronavirus on March 12. Schools closed the following week. Businesses shut, families left the capital, and the casual work sustaining the vast majority of urban Kenyans dried up.

PANKAJ SHAH

The government offered tax breaks little help to those too poor to pay taxes.

Newspapers called for "total lockdown," and forgotten families in the slums began to starve and to seethe.

Shah's volunteers, who call themselves Team Pankaj, have sent out over 24,000 hampers since setting up on March 22, each with enough food to last a family of five for two weeks.

"People were getting hungry and angry," Shah said.

He is asking wealthy Kenyans to donate 4,000 Kenya shillings each ($40) to fund the hampers - about the cost of two pizzas and a bottle of wine.

Someone had to act, he decided, and he asked a couple of friends to pitch in. A local school, shuttered by the virus, offered their premises as headquarters.

Kenya's Asian community - officially recognized three years ago as the nation's 44th tribe - rallied round. They brought cheques or truckloads of food or vegetables planted for export and now deserted by the lack of flights. The operation has been going daily for three weeks.

"I just need half the rich people here to care enough to fund a hamper," he says impatiently.

Mary Wangui, a 29-year-old mother, helped by Shah's efforts, said she had been desperate. "You can't hug a child to sleep when they are hungry," she said.

Mother Teresa, whom he said he met more than three decades ago in Nairobi.

A wheel spun off the Roman Catholic nun's ancient pickup truck and hit his new Mercedes, he said.

The accident brought an unlikely friendship between a "young, wild" businessman and the world-famous missionary, Mother Teresa who cared for the poor, he said. He volunteered with her for three months, he said, and adopted a baby girl from one of her orphanages.

"I think about what she would do," he says after the coronavirus hit. "That's the inspiration for the rest of my life."

Although Shah has never run any kind of aid operation before, he has a guiding spirit:

—Reuters

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By Joseph Campbell

SINGAPORE'S 'HOOLIGAN COOK' OFFERS FREE MEALS FOR NEEDY DURING VIRUS LOCKDOWN

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All Photos © REUTERS/Edgar Su

As food stalls around him have closed during the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore, 28-year-old cook Jason Chua has vowed to stay open for the many that now depend on him.

The tattoo-covered, former boxer has been serving up dozens of free meals for those in need since early April when the city-state imposed a lockdown aimed at curbing virus cases now among the highest in Asia.

Known as "Beng Who Cooks," beng being Singaporean slang for hooligan, Chua said that the pandemic has not been great for business although he is getting by.

"Yes, we are losing, we are not exactly taking salary for a few months already, but we still do maybe 10 to 25 orders per day for our business side, so that we can still sustain ourselves throughout this period of time," said Chua.

He was inspired to start giving out free meals after a close friend described his experience of buying food for a homeless man. Now he's making about 50-60 free meals a day through a foundation, "Beng Who Cares," co-run by his friend Sean Hung.

Singapore is facing the deepest recession in its 55-year history, compounded by a lockdown due to last until June 1 that has forced businesses to close.

Authorities have also warned that unemployment will likely rise due to these strict containment measures and an uncertain economic outlook.

Those requesting free meals, mainly low-income families, contact the foundation online via their Instagram or Facebook pages to arrange home delivery or collect in person.

Chua said the foundation refuses to accept donations since they believe it "isn't right" for people to give during current times of economic hardship. Still, there have been a few "forceful" donors of cash, oil, and rice.

Although it's hard work, Chua, a self-described adrenaline junkie, said his biggest motivation is to hear praise from anyone who enjoys his food.

"Surprisingly, the feedback is amazing…It motivates you. I crave a lot of praises, and those praises are what is pushing me and motivating me to do what I really love," he said.

—Reuters

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Food trucks start feeding big rig drivers at Interstate rest stops

BY LISA BAERTLEIN

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Big rig driver Tanuya White was running essential products from Chicago to Shreveport, Louisiana, on Saturday when she stopped to sample food truck fare at a rest stop on Interstate 30 near Social Hill, Arkansas.

It was a welcome respite for White, who, like other U.S. truck drivers, is scrambling to find food - as well as bathrooms, showers, and protective gear - after millions of businesses closed to help contain the spread of COVID-19 infections.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on April 3 gave mobile restaurants temporary permission to use Interstate rest areas to feed truckers who are transporting vital food, personal protective equipment, and medical devices during the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 20,000 people in the United States. "This is so needed," White, 51, told Reuters via cellphone.

Florida are rushing to issue temporary permits to get the emergency food truck program rolling.

Jennifer McKinzie said it took just hours to get the permission she needed to operate BowMcks Rolling Cuisine at two Arkansas rest stops. A few days later, McKinzie and her husband were selling a $10 pot roast dinner with potatoes, salad, gravy, bread, and a drink to White and other drivers.

"I'm sure they're tired," said McKinzie, who enjoys giving truckers what they need to recharge.

"Yesterday, we heard a guy say, 'I just need a Monster (energy drink).' Today we have Monsters," McKinzie said.

During her rest stop break, White grabbed a hot dog, french fries, funnel cake, and a pot roast dinner to go.

U.S. restaurants have shuttered or switched to limited service due to stay-at-home orders covering most of the country.

© Shawn McKinzie/Handout via REUTERS

While many fast-food service windows are open, truckers told Reuters their tractortrailers don't fit in drive-through lanes, and walk-up orders are not allowed. "Sometimes you just want a decent meal," said trucker Rodney Tweedie, 52, who transports everything from produce to beer in his "reefer" - as refrigerated trailers are known.

"Food trucks may provide vital sustenance for interstate commercial truck drivers and others who are critical to the nation's continued ability to deliver needed food and relief supplies to the communities impacted by the economic disruptions and healthcare strains caused by COVID-19," FHWA said in its notice.

© Thom Masat

"I haven't had a funnel cake since I was a teenager," White said. "I was smiling the whole time they were cooking it."

The National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) is lobbying the FHWA and governors to hit the brakes on the program. NATSO represents the interests of companies like TravelCenters of America Inc and Pilot Flying J, which is partly owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The National Restaurant Association and the organization that represents blind vendors, who are allowed to manage vending machines at rest areas along federal Interstates, have joined NATSO's protest.

Angie Werner, co-owner of The Meat Guy's BBQ Shack, says she's been blocked from serving food in rest stops.

"We want to, but the state of Michigan says we can't," Werner said.

States like Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana, and

—Reuters

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By Simon Johnson

Coronavirus a chance to choose a new path, says climate activist

GRETA THUNBERG Countries have a chance to choose a new path as societies begin to return to normal after lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, activist Greta Thunberg told an Earth Day event on Wednesday.

Thunberg, who shot to fame as a 15-yearold when she started skipping school on Fridays to protest over carbon emissions outside Sweden's parliament building, said the outbreak showed the need for longterm thinking.

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"Whether we like it not the world has changed, it looks completely different from how it did a few months ago, and it will probably not look the same again, and we are going to have to choose a new way forward," she said.

"If one single virus can destroy economies in a matter of weeks, it shows we are not thinking long term, and we are not taking these risks into account."

She was taking part in a streamed event to mark Earth Day, launched 50 years ago, to highlight environmental challenges.

Last year was the hottest on record in Europe, according to a study released by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Thunberg's school strikes calling for climate action sparked a global movement and transformed the now 17-year-old into the equivalent of an environmental rock star.

Drawing on her statement to the World Economic Forum last year, in which she said: "I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is," her Fridays for Future movement released a video to mark Earth Day, showing a family carrying out their normal routine, despite flames licking around their home.

But not everyone agrees with her approach.

U.S President Donald Trump in December urged her to "work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie."

And while some still question the role of human activity in the rise in temperatures, opinions are also divided on the best approach to handling coronavirus.

Sweden, for example, has opted for a much lighter touch in its social distancing measures than most of Europe, where societies have been in lockdown.

However, the current crisis underlined the importance of science in fighting threats to humanity, Thunberg said.

"In a crisis, you put your differences aside, you act, you go out in the unknown and take decisions that may not make much sense at the moment, but in the long run may be necessary for our common wellbeing," she said.

Thunberg said, in March, she had probably had been infected with the coronavirus after traveling to affected countries. However, her symptoms were mild and she had not been tested.

—Reuters

All Photos© Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/via REUTERS

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REUTERS

JOHN MARTIN DOE

With tires and rice bags, Cuba’s athletes invent home workouts A

triathlete swims in a tiny above-ground pool on her rooftop, her waist attached to the wall with resistance bands, while a baseball player bats into a car tire, and a boxer throws his punches into a bag of rice hanging from a mango tree.

“I’ve had to invent,” said triathlete Leslie Amat, 27, sweating profusely after a full workout on her Havana home’s rooftop, lined with potted plants.

In cash-strapped Cuba, professional athletes are inventing ways to work out and practice, despite the closure of common training grounds due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Using bands attached to the wall, she swims in it every day for thirty minutes. Then she runs on the spot using the same method, before hopping onto her road bike made stationary with a stand that is her one piece of professional equipment.

With most on state salaries of less than $40 per month, they cannot afford professional equipment at home. Nor would that be easy to acquire in a country subject to a U.S. trade embargo where the state has a monopoly on imports.

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In one corner is the 3-meter long aboveground pool, lent to her when authorities closed down the Olympic-sized pools she usually trains in last month.

Amat also created a separate contraption, a wooden board tilted at a 45-degree angle on tubes, to allow her to build up strength in the upper body. She leans against it and pulls herself up and down with straps.

All photos © Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini

A video of her improvised workouts, accompanied by the hashtag #quedateencasa (stay at home), went viral on social media this week.

Baseball player Santiago Torres has taken to hitting a car tire with a bat to keep up his strength, now that he cannot use the automated pitching machines at the training facility of his team, Santiago de Cuba.

“I’ve been keeping active at home, doing defense exercises with rubber balls, and also swinging the bat,” he said in a state television report.

For such athletes, suspending training until Cuba ends its lockdown is out of the question.

“My dream is to get the Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Amat. To qualify for the Cuban team, she still needs to score well in a few races.

“In these difficult times, we need to be very creative,” said Amat, “always remember this will pass and continue with our personal goals.”

— Reuters

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“I feel like 20 years from now, we’ll be a history project.”

Children around the world are living through a moment that no generation has really experienced before. Many in the United States are approaching a month in lockdown, unable to see their friends and with their schools and playing fields closed. What do they think of the coronavirus that has upended their lives, and how are they coping?

Here are some of the things children said:

WHAT IS THE VIRUS?

“The coronavirus is a worldwide sickness that is forcing everyone to stay home. The government wants us to stay at home so the virus does not continue to spread.” - Alexis Anderson, 12, Memphis, Tennessee.

“If you imagine a bubble, it has spikes on... and it attaches with those spikes to your cells and takes over the cells.” - Maverick Hughes, 8, Carmel, Indiana.

“For some people, it can be a common cold, but for some people maybe... if you’re more elderly, then it can be very deadly.” - Amanda Moran, 11, Los Angeles, California.

School buses are seen parked at First Student Charter Bus Rental as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 7, 2020. © REUTERS/Stephen Lam

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HOW LOCKDOWNS ARE AFFECTING THEM: “And even NBA players are infected and NBC is canceled and people’s schools.”

- Charles Coleman, 6, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

“Great, cause it’s fun and I don’t have to go to school.” - Lily Arling, 7, Cincinnati, Ohio.

“It’s definitely opened my eyes to like, stuff that I do every single day. I’m suddenly missing a lot of kids, a lot of my friends. We don’t realize how awesome school is until we lose it.” - Elsa Pena, 16, Miami, Florida.

“It’s been like very hard for me because I usually give people hugs or a high-five.

But I can’t do that because it’s coronavirus season.” - Alexandra Anderson, 8, Memphis, Tennessee.

© Annie Sprat

'We'll be a history project': children in the U.S. talk about the coronavirus

© Kelly Sikkema

HOW THEY’RE USING STAY-HOME TIME:

“I’ve been spending my time playing outside. And, and making brownies and cake.” - Dawson Carpenter, 5, Carmel, Indiana.

“I’m bored in the house and I’m in the house bored.” - Caleb Morgan, 15, Memphis, Tennessee.

THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE:

“I just hope everyone can remember that the situation that all of us are in is not permanent. Everything will get better eventually.” - Blake Davis, 12, Atlanta, Georgia.

“I hope that the scientists and that the doctors find a vaccine for this very soon, because I am... very tired of being in a house all day long.”

- Chardae Coleman, 11, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

“I feel like 20 years from now, we’ll be a history project.” - Kelsey Morgan, 15, Memphis, Tennessee.

—Reuters

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FARMERS PROSPER IN PANDEMIC AS AMERICANS SHOP LOCAL

By Nellie Peyton

With restaurants shut and grocery stores posing a coronavirus risk, some Americans are ordering food directly from the farm - a trend small-scale producers hope will outlast the pandemic.

It could be one of the few economic upsides to a crisis that has emptied high streets and felled business as Americans lock down against the fast-spreading novel coronavirus.

In northern Wisconsin, a farmers' collective said they are making thousands of dollars a week in a season when sales are normally zero.

By selling to people instead of restaurants, Illinois farmers said revenues are close to an all-time high.

Many farmers are adopting online ordering and home delivery, transforming old-fashioned farms into consumer-friendly outlets.

"In two or three weeks we accelerated like five to ten years of growth and change in the industry," said Simon Huntley, founder of Harvie, a company based in Pittsburgh that helps farmers market and sell their products online.

"I think we are getting a lot of new people into local food that have never tried buying from their local farmer before."

Eating local is lauded as a way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of transporting food long distances, although some studies have shown it is not always more climate-friendly.

Shorter supply chains boost resilience in a crisis and help small-scale sustainable farms, said Jayce Hafner, co-founder of FarmRaise, which helps farmers get grants and loans.

Growers across the country are vulnerable to economic shocks right now because of labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and fluctuating prices linked to the pandemic, she said.

Š Gregory Hayes

"The beauty of the direct-to-consumer app is it allows a farmer to capture the value of their product at a near-to-retail price, and so it's a really attractive option economically for a farmer," Hafner said.

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© Chris Duke

NEW EXPECTATIONS Chris Duke, who owns a farm in Wisconsin, has managed a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program for years.

The CSA model gained popularity in the United States more than a decade ago.

Typically customers pay a subscription fee to a farm then receive regular boxes of whatever is grown.

Using Harvie's platform, his farm and 17 others in the area can offer customers 95 products, from vegetables to honey to meat, and their clients choose just what they want each week.

They had been thinking of doing this for a while, he said, but were only spurred to make the change when coronavirus hit.

"I love the CSA model, but the CSA model by itself is 30 years old, and a lot has changed in the food marketplace, in technology, in customer expectations," Duke said. "It's a totally different world now."

Last week the farms made about $7,000 between them, which is huge for a season when not much is growing, he said.

He plans to keep the new model after the pandemic wanes.

© Peter Wendt

But with the spread of online shopping, shoppers are now used to getting what they

want, when they want it, said Duke.

CHALLENGES Not all of the direct-to-consumer businesses are digital.

said, but can only cater to 200 customers so had to cap orders accordingly.

Marty Travis, a farmer in central Illinois, has been the middleman connecting local farms to restaurants for 16 years.

He markets the products to chefs in the Chicago area, collects orders and distributes fresh produce each week.

He delivers to three dropoff spots in Chicago where people line up to collect - it is not home delivery but challenging nonetheless as farmers are used to bulk orders and packaging. Proceeds are huge.

When the novel coronavirus hit, he shifted gear and started selling to individuals - and was overwhelmed by demand.

"We have to find these opportunities to celebrate some positive stuff," said Travis, who is writing a book about how farmers can band together to feed communities.

"We could have 1,000 people tomorrow," he

Lisa Duff, the owner of a small family farm

in Maryland, started offering customized, athome deliveries last year and said it saved her when the restaurants and farmers' markets she served closed in March.

Without a delivery person, she does most of the driving herself - which has been tough.

But she has also seen her customers nearly double.

"I'm hopeful that this will really truly help us find that local food is here to stay."

—Reuters

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All photos © FINCA Canada

Haiti Village Bank

FINCA

CANADA MARGARETTE

first became a FINCA Haiti client in 2006, because she wanted to give her three children a better life. Her big dream was for her children to go to school so they could have a better future. Back then, Margarette

Margarette at her Market shop in Haiti

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Launches ‘Text to Give’ Campaign to Help Low-Income Female Entrepreneurs Survive the Pandemic. supported her children with a small business from her house in Aquin, selling meat as well as some hardware items. But this business never made her much money, and she wanted to earn more to pay for school fees. When

Margarette heard about FINCA in a meeting at her church, she knew it could be her chance. She got together with some neighbors, and they formed the Fanm Aksyon (Women of Action) FINCA Village Banking group.

Margarette used her first FINCA loan of 4,000 gourdes ($105) to buy cosmetics in Port-au-Prince to sell in Aquin. She was very successful, so FINCA increased her second loan amount to 8,000 gourdes ($210), which she used to buy cosmetics in bulk from a wholesaler. This allowed her to get better prices, keep an inventory, and offer a wider selection of products. As a result, her profits grew every month.

Margarette says the first time she borrowed from FINCA, she was afraid that she would never be able to repay so much money. But she did, and over the years, she was able to borrow more. Her confidence grew as she found that she was able to pay back every loan. She is using her most recent loan of 120,000 gourdes ($3,150), with a nine-month repayment period, to continue expanding her cosmetics and hardware businesses, to buy equipment for a new butcher shop, and to pay for a motorcycle and driver’s salary—another new business.

Thanks to her hard work and her FINCA loans, Margarette has been very successful.

She bought a small house in Port-au-Prince for her children, so they can go to a better high school than the one in Aquin. She visits them whenever she has to buy merchandise in Port-au-Prince. Rachelle is now in eleventh grade; her son Enoch is in tenth,

and her daughter Ruth is in ninth grade.

She used some of her earnings to buy a plot of land in Aquin and two cows. She is even saving to pay for Rachelle’s wedding.

response but also to keep their business viable. For example, there are several FINCA supported seamstresses in DR Congo that are now making face masks.

Margarette says, “I am proud to be a FINCA client, and I love what FINCA has done for me and for other Haitian women.

To support these efforts, FINCA Canada Emergency Response Fund will offer Business Expansion Loans to customers who can expand or adapt their businesses to meet urgent community needs during the pandemic and in its aftermath. The Emergency Respond Fund will also provide Starter Loans and Starter Business Kits to low-income women entrepreneurs to rebuild their business once commerce resumes.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her future is uncertain. With social distancing in effect and no expectation of public bailouts for small business, unemployment insurance, or a stimulus check program, Margarette needs to make a choice between feeding her family and putting herself and others at risk.

She is not alone as forty-one percent of FINCA’s 2.7 million borrowers are female, typically operating retail and trade businesses that are expected to be hardest hit by the pandemic. FINCA projects that 120,000 small and micro-businesses of its female customers will be destroyed. Global gains in women’s financial inclusion will be at risk, local communities will lose these trusted businesses, and female borrowers with unpaid loans will find it nearly impossible to obtain credit to start anew.

On a positive note, some FINCA entrepreneurs have pivoted their business to not only contribute to the COVID-19

To support the fund, FINCA Canada is launching our Text to Give Campaign to rapidly raise $1,000,000 for women and their families in developing countries impacted by COVID-19. This campaign will commence on May 05, 2020, on #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity when the world stands in solidarity in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

To participate, text FINCA to 30333 today and donate $10 to FINCA Canada and support communities in need. After the donation is complete, your wireless carrier will automatically add $10 to your monthly bill and forward your donation to FINCA Canada.

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By Nora Savosnick

How quarantine in my childhood home brought my family closer

W

hen President Trump announced the ban on travel from Europe last month, I was more than 3,000 miles away from my Norwegian childhood home, a 24-yearold photographer creating a life of my own in New York City.

I had to start thinking about whether I would risk my U.S. work visa – and my newfound freedom – to go home for nationalized health care and, most of all, to see my family. My mum recovered from cancer a few years ago: What if I couldn't see her if she became sick again?

That evening I went on a first date to a trendy and still-crowded New York City restaurant. We said goodbye with a wave after applying hand sanitizer. As I eagerly awaited the after-text to see if he was into me, he sent me a message to go home to Norway while I still had the chance.

The next morning my parents called. "I want you to be here in case you should be sick,"

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said my mum, Chava Savosnick. "It's kind of scary to have my daughter on the other side of the world in these times."

In a panic, I bought a ticket back to Norway.

I braced myself for a return to childhood, quarantined in my parents' basement.

The basement looks the same as it did when I was 16, drinking my first few sips of hard cider with my friend Elena. The same books, the same movies, the same sofa bed. It felt comforting and a little claustrophobic at the same time.

So far, my mum hasn't caught me drinking – or even snagging a scoop of forbidden ice cream. My childhood had very few sugary treats. As an adult rebelling against those childhood restrictions, I'd buy at least three Ben and Jerry's pints a week.

Now, because I had to be in quarantine for two weeks after my arrival from America, my parents were in total control of my diet. I was rationed on the number of days I can fry my breakfast or have even a single egg. My mum is worried about my cholesterol and the potential for high blood pressure.

I've learned that my 60-something parents are healthier than me. My mum walks as fast as a New Yorker, uses weights, and exercises every day. My dad, Mats Haraldsson, rides his bike for hours as a warm-up to his fitness regimen. He's an amateur lumberjack who still chops his own wood for the fireplace.

It's how he heats our home. I probably will never live up to their fitness lifestyle, but I should take more yoga classes.

This time of enforced togetherness has been a time of discoveries – of differences, but also of finding common ground that we might have forgotten about, or never even known before.

In my bedroom, there's a giant photograph of a tree that my father took when he was young. When I was a child, it hung in the room where I slept when we visited my grandmother, so I've known it my whole life. When I went to art school, my father gave me the camera he used to take the photo.

I never pieced it together before living in quarantine, but my dad helped inspire my love of photography. He thought about

being a professional photographer, but he was worried about if he could make a living at it. He's very security-minded.

"I didn't think I had the skills to take it to a professional level, but it was something I enjoyed for a few years," he says.

Now, during the quarantine, I've inspired him to pick up his camera again.

As my mum says: "How you look at the quarantine is your choice. You can look at the quarantine as a problem, or you can look at the quarantine as something that gives you two weeks to be with yourself, to think about things, and to develop things which you have no time for otherwise."

One night during my quarantine, we sat down and interviewed each other about what this time has meant to us, and to the world at large. We'd never done anything like that before, and it was fun and sometimes moving.

My mother said it was hard to keep her distance from me when I arrived home.

"When you came from New York, you know, the natural thing for me is to go forward to you and kiss you and hug you, you know, my little girl," she said. But even though we couldn't touch, "it's nice to, you know, have this feeling of having you close to me."

My dad said he was glad I was home. "We have to gather in these days," he said.

We talked about what we were most worried about. For me, it's my mum. She's in a higher-risk category, and she's been coughing. I'm afraid that without showing any symptoms, I've brought the disease with me from New York.

My mum fears getting ill, but she also worries about her country and the world as a whole.

"I'm a bit worried about how this is going to develop. Yes, not only because I'm in the risk group, but for the whole society. What's going to happen?" she said. "What kind of a Norway will this be when the virus is over or if it will be over?

in people. And I hope it will bring out the best in people."

We looked for the blessings in this time we never wanted or expected.

"There have been many plagues in the history of humanity, and we have always continued in one way or another," my dad said. "Maybe it will put us back to enjoy today because we don't know so much about tomorrow."

My mum, who knows something about not taking life for granted, said: "You have to live every day. And maybe don't think so much about the future. The future will come, but what the future will be, we don't know. But it will come. So it is to live every day as good as possible and enjoy every day."

This disease has shown us how interconnected we all are, in scary ways, but possibly also good ones. We've seen how one place in the world might affect the rest of us.

"So it's in everybody's interest that things are going fine all over the place, because it might affect us," my mum mused. "So maybe we will be more responsible and more conscious about how we act towards other places in the world."

For me, I think we're facing a huge change.

We've been treating this planet terribly for a long time, and I think we might come out of this as better people but also with a better planet.

But on a more personal level, even though I've sometimes felt restless and confined in my old home, this quarantine has given me precious time with my parents.

I'm the journalist, but they interviewed me that night too. This is what I said.

"The best part is that I'm getting a lot closer to you guys, and I don't think I would ever get this close if it hadn't been for me literally being locked down in this house. ... And I think a lot of people will come out of this knowing the people they lived in the house with better. And I'm very grateful for that."

"I am scared that it will bring out the worst

—Reuters

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The power of positive, solution-based journalism.