WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Companies around WNY are changing the way they do business. Some are helping provide supplies that will help us through the pandemic, including Pine Pharmacy in Williamsville.
“We only do custom compounding, so everything we do here we make from scratch patients rely on us for that reason, so we’re glad we’re able to help," said Pharmacist Jospeh Catanese.
They're able to create their own medications and supply it to local customers.
They've seen an increase in customers asking for items hand sanitizer and medications like hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. These medications have been said to help treat covid-19 by both Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump.
As a result, both are in high demand in the state. So the state is looking to local manufacturers like Pine to help meet those needs.
Here's a full list of what they need, per the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
- Medical Masks
- Face shields and goggles
- Gloves
- Gowns
- Ventilators
- Hand sanitizer
- Thermometers
- Cold and Flu medications.
Kohler Awning is hoping its sewing skills can be put to good use to make medical masks. The family owned business shut its doors last week and since then, its leader Jesse Kohler has been looking for ways to help the community.
“We would be able to manufacture thousands of these [masks] and we could start immediately, this week, if were to get approval on our design," said Kohler, President of Kohler Awning.
He created a prototype, sent it to government officials and is waiting to hear back. He's looking forward to an opportunity to help the community and give jobs back to his more than 70 employees.
“It’s like a family business, these people are like my family, I feel personally responsible for them. This is one way we thought we’d be able to help the community and help our employees at the same time," said Kohler.
If you think your business can help meet the state's needs email the Buffalo Niagara Partnership at connect@thepartnership.org.
