BIRMINGHAM, AL — In response to the significant needs for personal protective equipment (PPE), PRADCO Outdoor Brands (PRADCO), like many companies, wanted to find a way they could help during this crisis.
PRADCO's fishing lure manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas, transitioned teams to begin developing face shields and manufacturing hand sanitizer for local hospitals, while their hunting division in Birmingham Alabama began searching for PPE across their supply chain network.
Fortunately, Bart Stephens, Vice President of PRADCO Outdoor Brands, found another opportunity. "We were all watching in March as the healthcare situation escalated quickly. It is tough to watch healthcare and other essential workers in Birmingham fight on the front lines, while many of us hang back, work remotely, and feel powerless to help. One day we were notified that one of our major, overseas suppliers had begun producing face masks.” said Stephens.
“This unexpected discovery of a trusted, steady source for high-quality face masks came at an ideal time and gave us an opportunity to help. Our logistic capabilities made it easy for us to get masks delivered and distributed quickly. That is what we do every day with hunting and fishing products,” continued Stephens. However, at that same time, the market was being flooded with poorly manufactured products and purchasing scams. “We have long-standing partnerships that we knew could be beneficial in sourcing the PPE our frontline healthcare workers needed."
As of May 31, PRADCO, as part of EBSCO Industries charitable giving efforts, ordered, received, and distributed over 350,000 masks to be donated to local hospitals and healthcare facilities in Birmingham, AL, and Ipswich, MA, as well as to family members of EBSCO employees who are working on the front lines of this crisis. Local recipients of these PPE donations have included UAB, Brookwood Medical Systems, St. Vincent’s, Grandview Medical, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Shelby Baptist. "These donations simply became just as important as our fishing and hunting customers we continue to focus on and serve," said Kim Creel, PRADCO team member. "This crisis is impacting people and businesses alike, so I am extremely proud to be a part of an organization that stepped up to help several communities where PRADCO and EBSCO teammates work and live."
“We will continue to monitor the need in the community and provide these resources where they are required most,” said Stephens.