Gaia Herbs, a natural herbal products brand in the U.S., partnered with the nonprofit organization United Way of Henderson County to donate 13,500 two-ounce bottles of CDC-approved hand sanitizer to students in the Henderson County Public Schools District (HCPS). The hand sanitizers will be included in a health and safety kit from United Way, which will also include masks and public health literature from Pardee UNC Health Care. Every HCPS student across the 23 schools in the Henderson County School District will receive a health and safety kit during the first weeks of in-person classes in October.
 
The hand sanitizer donation follows several local community donations from Gaia, including donations of over 220 gallons and 1,500 individual hand sanitizer spray bottles to 17 different local organizations supporting the efforts of healthcare workers, farmworkers, government officials, first responders, and other frontline employees.
 
“The work United Way has been spearheading in these last few months – from fundraising for community organizations to helping people get the assistance they need – has truly been inspiring,” Angela McElwee, president and CEO of Gaia Herbs, said. “The decision to partner with United Way to help give back to the local community and our students this fall semester was an easy one for us. As a Certified B Corporation, Gaia Herbs is committed to using business as a force for good and contributing to a better world through our actions. This hand sanitizer donation represented an additional way to use our capabilities and expertise to make a positive impact and to help protect the health of our local students and teachers in Henderson County as they are transitioning back to in-person school.”
 
United Way is asking the Henderson County community to join in this effort as part of their fifth annual Day of Action. Volunteers from across the community, including Gaia Herbs employees, have already committed to assembling the kits. Donations of $5 per kit are needed to complete the purchase of face coverings for all HCPS students.
 
“We are so tremendously grateful for the contribution from Gaia Herbs, which, along with sponsorship from Pardee UNC Healthcare, is allowing this project to come together quickly to meet this immediate need,” Denise Long, executive director of United Way of Henderson County, said. “Now we’re asking Henderson County residents to give $5 or more to support the remaining pieces that we need for the kits,” Long continued.
 
Henderson County residents are able to support the kits by texting the word “ACTION” to 71777, or by visiting www.liveunitedhc.org.
 
Gaia Herbs developed the lemon antiseptic hand sanitizer as a way to help reduce bacteria nad keep their hands clean when soap and water is not available. The hand sanitizer has a light lemon scent, and is made with 80% organic alcohol, which exceeds CDC recommendations for hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizers are made without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified ingredients.