While the oil and gas industry has in recent weeks been battered from destructive market conditions and extremely low commodity prices, energy companies are still finding ways to step up and help communities close to home that have been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Through charitable contributions and generous donations, our industry is supporting local healthcare systems, first responders, food banks and other vital services helping those who need it most right now.
Apache Corporation, for instance, provided much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) earlier this month to health care facilities in the Houston area, and also gave out unused food from its office cafe to the Houston Food Bank. Similarly, Waste Management Texas Energy Services has been working with Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, to ensure food banks across the country have adequate supplies as the need for food assistance continues to grow. Through April 13, Waste Management matched dollar contributions from their employees made to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. The company also donated one million meals to those experiencing food insecurity due to the impacts related to the COVID-19 virus.
Meanwhile, at the beginning of April, Chevron announced it has contributed $230,000 across Permian Basin nonprofits responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations receiving funding include the West Texas Food Bank and Eddy and Lea County United Ways. Parsley Energy, has also taken action to ensure protection of health care workers in the Permian Basin where the company largely focuses its drilling operations. In early April, Parsley donated 330 gallons of True-Chem hand sanitizer to medical workers at hospitals in and around the Permian Basin region, and gave away 2,000 face masks for first responders in Midland and Odessa.
Cheniere Energy recently announced that it has pledged more than $1 million to organizations that provide essential services to those most in need and at risk during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to the more than $1 million donation, Cheniere has also partnered with the City of Houston, Project C.U.R.E. and the Astros Foundation to host a “no touch” supply drive to provide Houston’s frontline workers with personal protective equipment, launched a public match fundraising drive of up to $50,000, and also is supplying meals for frontline healthcare workers and first responders in Texas and Louisiana.
Additionally, Diamondback Energy announced $100,000 in donations in support of various nonprofit entities who have risen to meet the needs of the communities where they live and work. Diamondback’s support includes $25,000 to Relief Midland that provides 500 meals six days a week to members of the healthcare, public safety, hospitality and education communities; $12,500 to Mission Agape that focuses on food insecurity in Midland and the surrounding areas; $12,500 to Breaking Bread that provides “grab-and-go” meals to members of the community; and $7,500 to City Rescue Mission that helps the homeless and vulnerable in Oklahoma City.
Furthermore, ConocoPhillips is sending medical supplies to area hospitals and first responders on the front lines fighting against COVID-19. The company has already donated 6,500 respirator masks to local hospitals and first responders in Houston, Texas; Casper, Wyoming; and Riverton, Wyoming. The company has also given 6,000 pairs of medical exam gloves to medical centers in Odessa, Texas; Andrews, Texas; and Casper, Wyoming, as well as provided 500 personal hand sanitizers for area first responders in Karnes and DeWitt, Texas, in addition to other activities supporting healthcare workers.
To help children who have seen their education disrupted from COVID-19 and been forced to transition to distance learning, Marathon Oil has partnered with Houston-based nonprofit Comp-U-Dopt to prepare 25 laptops for families without access to a working device at home. Taking retired computers from corporations and individuals, Comp-U-Dot refurbishes the device and loads the system with learning software to help K-12 students continue their education online. Marathon Oil also has organized the donation of more than 8,000 N-95 masks from company warehouses to be given to healthcare organizations located in Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota.
And finally, to assist global healthcare researchers and medical experts working towards a solution to slow the spread of COVID-19, BP has joined forces with the White House, leading universities and the world’s largest technology companies to provide access to its supercomputer. By offering access to some of the world’s most powerful high-performance computing resources, the company hopes to do its part in significantly advancing the pace of scientific discovery to fight to stop the virus.
These are just a few examples of the larger industry response to give back and uplift those in the community who have been directly affected from COVID-19. At times when it counts the most, TIPRO is proud to know that our members maintain their deep commitment to serve the community and are dedicated to making social investments whenever possible to help those in need.