We’re all in this together.

The Nanaimo business community is trying to help in any way they can. If you know of a local business who’s making a positive difference during this difficult time, we want to hear about it. Email us at staystrong@nanaimonewsnow.com or fill out the form below.


United Way has set up a Local Love – Global Crisis Fund that will help those greatly impacted during thing unprecedented time. We are already seeing donations roll in and people offering their help to make sure the people who need help get help.

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Using limited materials, Arbutus Distillery has made just enough hand sanitizer to donate to health service agencies and non-profit organizations in Nanaimo. Since 100% of these products are being donated, they cannot accommodate personal requests, but they are seeking more sources for products like: aloe gel, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide, so they can continue to provide more.

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Industrial Plastics & Paints Nanaimo have partnered with Arbutus distillery to generously donate the packing required to make these products.

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The Children’s Treehouse has set up shop online to ease the tension of running out of things for kids to do while in self isolation. Find Easter treats, toys, books, crafts, and puzzles online and they will personally deliver!

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Owner and cook of Real Meals in Nanaimo. You can find her on Facebook. She has her regular clients and is also delivering 20 free meals a week to those in need, and to those who may not be able to get out during these circumstances. She is a very busy and caring lady who loves to help those in need.

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I’d love to nominate the Medicine Shoppe at Departure Bay Road as a business that makes a difference right now during COVID-19. They clearly display on their doors: hand washing techniques, COVID-19 precautions and social distancing instructions and when I stepped into the pharmacy, everyone was practicing social distancing.

As a business that goes above and beyond, I would like to give pharmacist Kristen Ahumada-Azcarraga at the Medicine Shoppe, kudos for being a business that makes a difference. She is keeping the work atmosphere safe for her employees and for her patients and most of all, the entire team is still delivering great personalized service to each and every client.

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Please Thank KBJ Delivery Service for risking their health and safety by delivering essential goods up and down the island. Trevor and Kunle from KBJ Delivery Service, new small local business great guys honest reliable service.

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A mother of two took on a project to reach out to others to connect how we are going with the isolation. She is Natasha James from Nanoose Bay and her project is called Hearts in the Window. It was a Facebook ptoject. It was started on Friday and this morning it generated 77000 shares. all over the world…it’s amazing. She is happy to speak to you. You can see hearts in peoples Windows all over town.

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Very grateful to Snip & Stitch for staying open to give access to supplies for masks being made. They also give a discount when you say what it’s for plus they donated material. Can also phone and pre-order and p/u supplies.

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Thank you to all the Pharmacists, Delivery people and staff at Central Drugs. This is a very busy and stressful time for them and they are handling it with grace. Keeping all their clients safe and supplied with their much needed medications is their top priority and it shows!

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VMAC has been working to assist local, provincial, federal, and international initiatives to help with essential medical supplies. VMAC has used its custom machine shop to prototype and ship test parts for ventilator units, with the intention of manufacturing these parts in the near future.

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Nanaimo Elements Spa on Uplands Rd donated boxes of masks and gloves to NRGH!

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Red’s Bakery is doing all they can and more to help essential workers, people that are at home etc. They have their lunch truck out there to bring good food to workers at a low price. Deliveries to those wanting it at no cost. Donating food to people that are having trouble financially and making sure that they go to truckers with meals. A real community small business.

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Wolf Brewing Co is donating all their delivery fees to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation.

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School District working tirelessly to provide support for students as well as organizing childcare for ESWs.

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Lakeside Gardens senior community staff where my mom lives. Michelle (ass’t Mgr.) & ALL the staff are working tirelessly. They are finding ways to help us communicate with our parents.. like sending letters via e-mail (my mom has no computer & doesn’t hear the phone) Michelle prints off the letter/pictures & staff deliver with a smile. Now she is going to try meeting up via Skype for us to connect … it’s challenging for these seniors in their very late years to have no activity, entertainment or visitors but Lakeside is doing their best – KUDOS !

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The housekeepers at NRGH would love to give thanks to Steve and John from Coca Cola for the skid of water. With some public areas of the hospital closed we have no way of getting water. thanks so much Coca Cola.

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Superette foods is selling items from several local eateries to help them get through these tough times. Like hungry rooster and pie factory… Saw it on Facebook post

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A big thank you to the strong women of Crossfit Nanaimo who are going above and beyond to provide their members with online training during this difficult time. The daily check-ins and smiling faces brings light in this dark time. They provide more than an opportunity to be physical they provide an outlet to strengthen our mental health as well. I am so thankful to be apart of the CFN community and want to send out positive thoughts to everyone during during this confusing time.

I work in emergency at NRGH. Several businesses have kindly sent food or treats for hospital staff. We really appreciate it! Panago, Delicados, Tim Hortons, McDonald’s. These are the ones I know of.

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Shawn at Junk In Our Trunk is an exceptional human being and deserves as much recognition as he can get. He offers junk removal and cleanup as well as moving and delivery services. Hardest worker I know and is on time, sorts out the junk so it goes to the proper facilities or donation drop offs etc.

During our Covid-19 crisis, he’s continuing to help people the best he can in a safe manner. No contact, the client must be able to get the items to the curb for him to pick up etc. He’s offering a reduced rate at this time as well.

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South nanaimo Panago has been donating pizza to ER staff and first responders and will continue to do so till the end of the pandemic.

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Coco cafe! We had the family freezer meals delivered, no price gouging for amazing healthy options. social distance delivered to our driveway. Making life easier for my picky eaters and a treat for me as well not having to figure out what to make out of pantry items on hand. We love Coco cafe for many reasons their commitment to community and inclusive practices for work and training while providing fantastic food.

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Online service offered by Quality Food in Nanaimo. Their online ordering system is easy to use. I was able to pay online with a credit card and choose a time for delivery. Right on time a young man, masked and gloved, dropped them on our porch.

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A mother of two took on a project to reach out to others to connect how we are going with the isolation. She is Natasha James from Nanoose Bay and her project is called Hearts in the Window. It was a Facebook project. It was started on Friday and this morning it generated 77000 shares. all over the world…it’s amazing. She is happy to speak to you. You can see hearts in peoples Windows all over town.

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The final actions before the closure of Papa John’s Nanaimo were to deliver a donation of 60 X-large pizzas, wings and desert’s to the Nanaimo hospital for the night staff in all of the departments. They donated to the ambulance workers, fire department and enough pizzas, 45, to the super store for their staff.

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E Roko in Nanaimo- there is currently 2 warehouse guys and a part time admin lady showing up daily, keeping this branch open. A huge shout out to them- as without them, this branch would be closed. Orders are called in, arrangements made to pick up outside the warehouse. More than enough space for staff to stay separated, they are making it work!

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Kudos to Elijah and Pam Ssemaluulu, and staff, at the Medicine Shoppe in Terminal Park. Offering full service pharmacy with delivery available for all. Professional and helpful service. Elijah is committed to offering private, personal info and knowledgeable help for patients. A great place for all your prescription and medical needs.

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Parhar Group Duncan and the Steelhead Distillery just donated 2 cases of hand sanitizer for our nurses at NRGH to take home. This is from the second batch that Steelhead has produced. We need to keep our frontline workers healthy and able to work. Thanks to Jeff at the new Gone Fishin Store in Duncan for arranging this.

NRGH is only opening 2 doors so everyone coming in is screened by RN’s. Long, stressful shifts for the nurses monitoring those 2 doors. So appreciate receiving a supply of sanitizer to keep our RNs healthy at home so they can continue to care for patients.

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We wanted to give a shout-out to the Executive Director – Melanie Young at Kiwanis Village in Nanaimo who has been working around the clock (literally she has moved on site temporarily) to support our village and seniors! We feel really lucky to have such a knowledgeable leader keeping us all safe!

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Pactow Transport Services. They make moving the 80% freight coming to the island going through Seaspan Ferries possible, keeping the truckers able to supply stores. The unsung heroes of the island.

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Thrifty Foods is amazing with their limit of people, one way isles and proper spacing. After working a long shift I know I feel safe and not stressed out do my food shop there. – Maureen

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A huge thank you to Milner Group. They have a Community Support Initiative and are giving away two yards of premium soil to”Help the Community Grow”. This generous offer even includes free delivery to frontline health careworkers!!!
Thank you to our local companies for helping local citizens.

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Island Radio, for keeping us informed, entertained & playing good tunes to to get us through the day. Keep on “Rockin” Thank you, To You All!

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GoodLife Juice Company donated fresh pressed juice and some delicious salads to our entire team of Essential Service workers on a week when everyone needed a little pick me up! It was very awesome and very appreciated! Thank you Andrea and Team!!!

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Island Supply has kicked it into high gear, making sure that the residents of Protection Island and beyond are safe, home and well-supplied. Their scheduled grocery runs are now packed to the gills, they doubled the frequency, started picking up at new locations, and can be relied on to be sweet, kind and helpful despite their long hard days. Thank you!

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Ken jones owner Tacomania was at the NRGH on Monday to feed the nurses and front line workers for their lunch break.