“When we give cheerfully and accept gracefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

By Mary O’KEEFE

The pandemic has affected just about every aspect of life including the ability to give and help others. In a community, many local organizations depend on the generosity of individuals and businesses. Supporting one another makes a community strong and helps all through the darkest of times. Although the philosophy of philanthropy is still in the hearts of many it has been increasingly difficult for some to donate as financial hardships and uncertainty remains an ever-present part of society.

“I am watching businesses up and down Foothill Boulevard close,” said Chris Waldheim, owner of J’s Maintenance. “The urgency [to help others] is even higher. The [number of]people who [normally] contribute to all of the organizations have shrunk.”

And that is exactly what he does.

When the strain of COVID-19 became obvious as hospitals reached out for help in shoring up supplies of PPE [personal protective equipment] Waldheim was there to help.

“We did a glove donation [to USC Verdugo Hills Hospital] in March,” he said.

He said the donation was a logical decision because his supplier had shipped a double order of gloves to his business. For Waldheim it just made sense to share … so he did.

Later he read an article that USC-VHH was in need of iPads for patients. A heartbreaking side of the pandemic is the loneliness and isolation that results from it. Due to how easily COVID-19 spreads from person to person, when people with COVID-19 enter the hospital they are isolated from family and friends and only hospital staff is allowed in their rooms. This has been difficult for the patients, loved ones and hospital staff. One of the ways to lighten the burden of isolation is providing a way for patients to connect with others via computer tablets like iPads.

When Waldheim read of the need he decided to make a donation.

“I called Apple [manufacturer of the iPad] and said, ‘I need 20 iPads,’” he said.
At first the Apple sales representative did not trust the order, telling Waldheim that he couldn’t sell him that many iPads at once; he thought Waldheim would resell them. Eventually a business account was created with the company.

“We ended up purchasing 21 iPads that day,” Waldheim said.

Recently someone from the hospital contacted him asking if he could donate again. He asked how many were needed; they said 30, so he ordered 30.
“I think [in the first] case donating the gloves was logical. When someone says ‘We are running out of gloves and need to protect our nurses and doctors’ and I have gloves [it makes sense],” he said.

He added the hospital staff has gone through that donation of gloves – and more – but donating the iPads will provide long-lasting support.

Dealing with that terrible feeling of being separated from friends and family is tough, especially for patients, but being able to communicate virtually using the donated iPads helps. Waldheim added the tablets can also be used during doctor visits in some cases.

“The iPads provided to us have been a great addition to our patient care,” said Patch Cunanan, RN, in a previous interview with CVW. Cunanan is a nurse who works with COVID-19 patients.

“I think obviously 2020 has been a crazy year,” Waldheim said.

He said his business is doing okay in spite of the challenges. His employees have been affected by the pandemic and he has done what he can to help. He offered COVID pay and supplemental paid sick leave before the law was passed, which was a good way to help his employees.

In September, California implemented COVID-19 paid sick leave as Labor Code section 248.1 and was enacted through AB 1867.
J’s Maintenance has always taken precautions when cleaning but has become even more vigilant. Employees are already trained in dealing with blood-born pathogens and have now added COVID-19 protocols.

“Our employees are super-protective,” he said.

Taking care of his employees and his community has been a tradition of this family-owned business. The company J’s Maintenance and Waldheim personally have supported many organizations including Relay for Life/American Cancer Society, Glendale Education Foundation, Prom Plus and the Bailey Center food bank. He understands that businesses may be struggling but encourages others to give when they can.

“Businesses [should] look at the community and ask, ‘How can I give back?” he said.