We applaud people who step up and use their talents for good, especially during times of crisis. With the coronavirus pandemic overwhelming supply chains,  health care workers have sent out the call for help acquiring face masks and some of beauty and fashion’s biggest names have answered the call. 

In France, Chairman and Chief Executive of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, has instructed the LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics business to prepare its production sites to manufacture substantial quantities of hydroalcoholic gel to be provided to public authorities. LVMH will therefore use all the production facilities of its Perfumes & Cosmetics brands (Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain and Parfums Givenchy) in France to produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic gel from Monday. The gel will be delivered free of charge to the French health authorities and as a priority from this Monday to the Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris.

And, just announced on March 21st, following  the  retooling  of  its  Perfumes  &  Cosmetics  production  units  to  manufacture  and  distribute large quantities of hydroalcoholic gel free of charge, LVMH has pledged to help address the surgical mask shortage France is currently facing. By virtue of its global distribution network, LVMH has managed to secure an order with a Chinese industrial supplier for a delivery of 10 million masks in France in the coming days (seven million surgical masks and three million FFP2 masks). The order will be repeated for at least four weeks in similar quantities (ie approximately 40 million masks).

See more information at LVMH’s corporate website.

IATSE's Theatre Wardrobe Locals, the Hollywood Costumers Local and Costume Designers Guild are leading an effort through which its members will sew protective masks for immediate distribution to health care facilities. The effort addresses the enormous shortage of masks, gloves and additional protective gear that doctors and other health care workers rely upon as they treat individuals with coronavirus symptoms.

In a letter to her members, MPEG national executive director Cathy Repola wrote, "If any of you sew or want to volunteer to deliver the masks (without violating the social distancing guidelines), please let us know and we will put you in touch with those coordinating."

For the full story, visit HollywoodReporter.com

And heroes behind-the-scenes are volunteering to be the first test cases for the vaccine against COVID-19.  According to this article on PBS.org, on March 16, U.S. researchers gave the first shot to the first person in a test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine.

“We all feel so helpless. This is an amazing opportunity for me to do something,” Jennifer Haller, 43, of Seattle, said as she awaited the shot.

She’s the mother of two teenagers and “they think it’s cool” that she’s taking part in the study.

After the injection, she left the exam room with a big smile: “I’m feeling great.”

Complete story at PBS.org