As Canada continues to deal with a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the global fight against COVID-19, the team at McCarthy Uniforms has redirected its resources and equipment to address the crisis facing those on the front lines.
Leveraging a strong global supply chain network, the company has moved quickly to procure and produce desperately needed PPE, with more than 100,000 units delivered to-date to critical locations including Sick Kids, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Hamilton Health Care Network.
“As we fight this global pandemic, we are humbled and proud to be playing a role in protecting our front line workers, and we stand side-by-side with the broad network of Canadian manufacturers that are dedicating each and every day to delivering critical PPE and helping our communities work safely,” said Vanessa Iarocci, president, McCarthy Uniforms. “Our long-standing belief in the power of uniforms to create community couldn’t be stronger as the country – and the world – stands united during this difficult time.”
Vanessa Iarocci
Faced with a nation-wide shutdown and the option of temporarily shutting its doors, McCarthy Uniforms’ leadership team rapidly shifted the focus of its employees in early March. Making the decision to keep its business open and people employed, team members across the country have since been dedicated to the sourcing, distribution and production of PPE to help protect the essential workers that put themselves at risk every day.
The McCarthy team developed a prototyped medical isolation gown made of up-cycled school uniform fabric that is being donated to hospitals and nursing homes, in addition to leveraging its global supply chain partners to source and distribute protective masks, isolation suits and sanitizers to workers at hospitals and other essential locations.
The speed with which the company has been able to procure and deliver PPE is attributed to its strong relationships with global supply chain partners. Shipments are arriving are on time and are of the quality and quantity expected, which is above standard for those leveraging a global supply chain network during COVID-19. The reliability of deliveries has meant that the recipients of PPE in hospitals and other essential locations have been able to plan accordingly.
Dr. Michael Ko
“McCarthy Uniforms donated much needed PPE to the Thoracic Surgery team at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto during our time of critical need,” said Dr. Michael Ko, assistant professor of surgery, at the University of Toronto and division head, thoracic surgery at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. “During times like these, you can truly see leadership emerging from companies who care about their community. McCarthy’s is clearly one of those companies that is devoted to doing the right thing, when it matters most.”
In addition to the development and procurement of PPE, McCarthy Uniforms continues to serve its online workplace segment including public sector employees across healthcare and education, and private sector workers in a wide range of industries from construction to retail to food services to logistics.
The company has also made changes to ensure it can continue to seamlessly serve its school uniform customers leading up to back to school, including setting up a ‘click and collect’ curbside program and an online 1:1 FIT experience, among other changes.
Founded in 1956, McCarthy Uniforms is normally a provider of uniforms to schools and workplaces across Canada, employing more than 350.
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