The Lo Osos owned company QuickPickleKit.com will hold an online fundraiser and donate a portion of their sales to the First Responders Children’s Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for the month of May.
Ten percent of sales from QuickPickleKit.com’s will go to the Foundation and will help provide grants to first responders in the following ways:
• hotel rooms so first responders don’t have to go home and jeopardize the safety of their family members and infected first responders can self-quarantine
• provide college scholarships for children with first responder parents who have died due to COVID-1
Andrea Wasko and Meaghan Gilbert, owners of QuickPickleKit.com, are members of the Estero Bay Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and have activiely supported several nonprofits including the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team, which rescues and treats animals during a disaster, and the Jim Deaver Fire Academy Scholarship Fund, which supports future firefighters.
Additionally, Wasko has strong ties to the medical field. Her mother, whose recipes were used in the Quick Pickle Kit and Spice Packets, is a retired nurse. Wasko has worked for several companies including Eli Lilly and Guidant (Boston Scientific) treating autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. She has great respect for doctors, nurses and first responders and thanks them for the sacrifice that they make to help others.
In May, there are several days that are significant including: May 4 – 10 is National Hospital Week, May 6 – 10 is Nurses Week, May 9 is National Foodies Day, May 10 is Mother’s Day, May 11 – 17 is National Police Week, May 12 is International Nurses Day, May 16 is International Pickle Day, May 17 – 23 is National EMS Week and May 18 – 28 International Pickle Week is celebrated over Memorial Day Weekend.
“The Quick Pickle Kit is a fun DIY and educational activity the family can do together,” Wasko said. “With the Quick Pickle Kit and Spice Packets, children learn science, history, how to make healthy food and reduce food waste. Pickles and pickle juice made with the Quick Pickle Kit are not only great tasting but can also reduce anxiety and can keep your gut healthy to boost your immune system during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Wasko and Gilbert received the 2019 US Small Business Administration (SBA) Award for supporting nonprofits and schools, reducing food waste and providing jobs for disabled adults. The SBA awarded , the owners of Los Osos based Connoisseur Creations, Inc., their Small Business Persons of the Year Award marking the first time that a business from SLO received the award.
