IKEA Canada commits over $2M to support local communities impacted by COVID-19

IKEA Canada announces its commitment to provide approximately $2.3M in product and supply donations to support local communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The retailer will first focus its relief efforts on vulnerable communities, including homeless, newcomers, refugees and children, providing home furnishings to ensure they have a safe and comfortable home during these challenging times. It will also support those leading COVID-19 relief efforts by providing relevant supplies from its range to medical services and facilities.

“At IKEA, our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Now more than ever, we know that home is the most important place in the world,” said Michael Ward, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Canada. “By providing home furnishings to some of our most vulnerable and at-risk communities, we ensure that not only are their basic necessities met, but also that their home is a place of comfort and safety when they need it most.”

IKEA Canada has established a national task force and is currently engaging with its network of trusted partners, government agencies and registered charities to determine where donations can have the greatest impact. The retailer has already collaborated with Furniture Link, an organization that connects businesses to vulnerable communities and will support more than 1,500 families with needed home furnishings in communities across Canada. IKEA is also working closely with its network of national refugee employment partners to provide home kits to newcomers in need.

From coast-to-coast, IKEA Canada stores and distribution units have already started making contributions to medical services and facilities. The furniture retailer has donated nearly 230,000 N95 masks to local hospitals and healthcare centres across the country. IKEA Canada will continue to work closely with medical services to donate urgently needed supplies from its range such as bedding, mattresses, children’s toys and food.

“We’re committed to supporting the communities in which we serve and we want to do all that we can to support our front line healthcare workers who continue to work tirelessly for our health and well-being during this unprecedented time,” said Melissa Barbosa, Sustainability Manager, IKEA Canada.

IKEA Canada’s donation is part of Ingka Group’s global commitment to provide emergency relief efforts in the 30 countries in which it has operations. Ingka Group has allocated €26m to protect the health and livelihoods of communities, co-workers, suppliers and consumers impacted by coronavirus.

ABOUT IKEA CANADA

Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer, offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. IKEA Canada is part of Ingka Group which operates 374 IKEA stores in 30 countries, including 14 in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 31 million visitors to its stores and 117 million visitors to IKEA.ca. IKEA Canada operates business through the IKEA vision - to create a better everyday life for the many people and does so through its local community efforts and sustainability initiatives. For more information on IKEA Canada, please visit IKEA.ca.

For more information:

IKEA Canada

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For media inquiries:

Kristin Newbigging

IKEA Canada, Public Relations Leader

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