Last month, JetBlue announced the first major refresh of their Mint service, JetBlue’s premium travel experience including the introduction of new products. As part of their focus on sustainability and JetBlue For Good platform, retiring Mint items will be revitalized in an impactful way. Rather than throwing these items away, JetBlue is providing unused and gently used and cleaned items like blankets, pillows, dishes and cutlery to those who need them most, while also diverting waste from landfills. JetBlue is also providing unused amenity kits and toiletries to homeless shelters, and headphones to some of the JetBlue Foundation’s education partners to assist students in virtual learning.
“As we refresh our Mint service, consistent with our mission to inspire humanity, it was important to us to put our previous product to additional good use,” said Icema Gibbs, director of corporate social responsibility and diversity, equity and inclusion, JetBlue. “Giving back is in our DNA. Instead of sitting in a warehouse or sending these gently and unused items to the landfill, we’re giving them a second life and helping the most vulnerable. Although this holiday season looks much different for many of us, we wanted to keep our tradition of giving back, especially as we ourselves have received help to survive the pandemic. Our resources are just one way we’re helping our charitable partners continue assisting our neighbors in need.”
JetBlue’s donation of new blanket, pillow and amenity kits to the City of New York and its Department of Social Services were coordinated through a collaboration with the Partnership for New York City – a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of the city through its work with civic, business, labor and government leaders – will go directly to local shelters. This fall, JetBlue’s CEO Robin Hayes signed a pledge along with other business leaders across industries making a commitment to the city and asking the current administration to take on public safety and other quality of life issues that jeopardize economic recovery.
“This program reinforces JetBlue’s commitment to the city and supporting underserved communities,” said Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City. “JetBlue’s leadership during this challenging time and thoughtful approach to sharing resources with our public partners should serve as a model for the city’s economic recovery and how the private sector is currently filling gaps and extending public sector efforts.”
“Since the outset of this pandemic, DSS-DHS has moved mountains to prioritize the health and safety of vulnerable New Yorkers while ensuring that they continue to receive the vital resources and services they need to stabilize their lives,” said Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter. “We thank JetBlue for this thoughtful donation and are grateful for the support we continue to receive from private partners as we work to support and uplift the New Yorkers who we serve, especially during this unusual holiday season.”
Additionally, dishware and cutlery will be donated to local soup kitchens through partnerships with the United Way of Broward County and local soup kitchens in Boston, among other organizations throughout JetBlue’s network, while headphones will be donated on behalf of the JetBlue Foundation to its education partner grantees who will use them for virtual schooling and programming.
“We’re excited to present hundreds of kids in our program with headphones, thanks to the JetBlue Foundation, as part of our Share the Season celebration,” said Malena Mendez-Dorn, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. “While our kids will use the headphones to listen to their favorite tunes, they’ll also plug them in to stay focused in their virtual classrooms, which is particularly important as many navigate school in an online setting. We’re thrilled that JetBlue has joined us in defending the potential of the young people we serve and appreciate their generous support.”
