Health and care facilities have thanked a local business for its support during the current pandemic crisis after it donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and headbands for face shields which it manufactured using 3D printing. 

Hayter Limited, and its parent The Toro Company, lawncare and turf experts based in Spellbrook, near Bishop’s Stortford, was keen to do what it could to offer support to local health and care facilities when it became clear people didn’t always have access to the protection equipment they really needed. 

Working with a network of contacts, the company began supporting the manufacturing of headbands via a 3D printer. The headbands are used to hold face shields. So far the business has donated nearly 700 of the headbands, which it continues to produce. 

In addition, thousands of PPE items have also been donated to the Rivers Hospital in Sawbridgeworth, St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood and South Street Surgery in Bishops Stortford. A new Toro TimeMaster mower was also donated to the Rivers Hospital. 

Many of the donations came about due to contacts employees at Hayter and Toro had within these facilities and all the donations were greatly received. 

Rosie Knowles at St Clare Hospice said: “Thank you so much – this is very generous and has come at the perfect time. Hayter has been a long-standing supporter of St Clare, from donations and staff fundraising to in-kind support for our raffle. It means so much to us that our friends in the business world are thinking of us now, when we know that everyone is facing hard times.” 

Andy King at The Rivers Hospital, which is a private hospital currently providing free emergency capacity to the NHS during this pandemic, said: “It is heart-warming when a company like Toro makes contact with us, to firstly offer the PPE to our hospital and then make the incredible donation of a lawn mower. It shows big companies have a heart and are aware of helping others in locations nearby.” 

Dr. Sarah Dixon at South Street Surgery added: “We are extremely grateful and this will help ensure we are able to continue to safely see patients both at the surgery and at our local Hot Clinic where we see symptomatic patients together with the other local practices. Thank you once again”. 

Tom O’Riordan, manager – Sourcing EMEA, at Hayter said: “It was clear early on that businesses needed to do what we could to support our NHS and care staff so they can carry on safely doing their jobs which are keeping us all safe and looking after those in need. It’s been challenging at times but nonetheless, it’s nothing in comparison to the daily challenges faced by our NHS and care workers. 

“We hope our donations have gone a small way to helping and mostly would like to say a big thank you to everyone on the frontline working tirelessly and selflessly to battle this virus.” 

In April, The Toro Company also announced that it was giving $500,000 to assist families and communities worldwide that had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant funding from the Toro Foundation will span all regions where The Toro Company operates, and focuses on providing food, health and humanitarian assistance to helping people adversely impacted. 

The contributions include commitments to several global nonprofits that are assisting in the relief efforts. And an additional element of the global giving effort included a special program for its employees to personally give to designated COVID-19 relief organizations. Under the program, The Toro Company will match employee contributions to a nonprofit organization of their choice in support of relief efforts. 

www.hayter.co.uk