Shift Change

We are excited to announce our "Scrubs for Change" project, rolling out just in time for 2016.  Women who are victims of domestic violence often arrive at shelters with little more than the clothes on their backs.  They desperately need comfortable options while receiving care and treatment.  A great solution?  Donated used scrubs!  They fit all all sizes and genders comfortably, and give dignity to those that need clothes while they are getting back on their feet.Catalyst has decided to partner with domestic violence shelters to provide clean, pre-worn scrubs as an option for women in a time of transition.  Our first partnership is with House of Hope in Catalyst founder Holly Godfrey's hometown of Lexington, Missouri.  Ann Gosnell-Hopkins, House of Hope's executive director, says that the donated scrubs will also be used to help provide uniforms for the women who are transitioning back into the workforce, as many jobs in the rural area are in healthcare and require scrubs.

Here's how your used scrubs can become "Scrubs for Change":  Send your pre-worn scrubs to Catalyst at the address below, and we will e-mail you a coupon code for 20% off your next scrub order!  Be sure to include your name and e-mail address with your donation so we can send you your coupon code.  Pair up with other nurses and therapists to send in scrubs together to save on shipping, and each person that donates will get a coupon code!

We hope to start partnering with other domestic violence resource groups throughout 2016--if you know of a place that might benefit, please contact us HERE!

Not only will you be helping survivors of domestic violence here in the U.S, but by purchasing Catalyst Scrubs you will be providing sustainable income for at-risk women around the world.  Plus, we guarantee that you will love our scrubs as much as our mission.  Our repeat customers agree that these are truly the BEST scrubs on the market, and the story behind them makes them the best scrubs in the world.  "This material is crazy-soft, and it doesn't wrinkle!"  "I've washed mine a million times and they look just like they did when I bought them!"  "I love the pocket placement on the tops and pants"--these are just a few of the comments we've received in the past month.

Send us your scrubs today, help the homeless here in the United States while providing jobs to women in the slums of India, and reward yourself by purchasing a luxurious pair of new Catalyst Scrubs!

You can send your washed, pre-worn scrubs to:

Catalyst Scrubs--Scrubs for Change

705-B #223

Lee's Summit, MO 64081

Or, if you live in the Lexington, MO area, you can deliver them directly to House of Hope:
301 Broadway
Lexington, MO 64067.

Feel free to contact us anytime with questions or suggestions!  support@catalystscrubs.com

The soul always knows what it needs to heal itself.  The challenge is to silence the mind.  ~Carolyn Myss

It’s that time of year when we reflect, remember, and resolve.  For those of us who work in patient care sometimes we put our own needs well below those of those who need us.  Here are some suggestions for true renewal in 2016:

• Take 5 minutes twice during your shift to go somewhere quiet and just focus on your breathing.  In our busy day, it’s impossible to find 20 or 30 minutes to slow down, meditate and clear our minds.  But taking just 5 minutes, twice during your shift to get away from the beeping IV machines, ringing patient call lights, endless stream of questions and spur-of-the-moment issues will help bring your stress level down, slow your blood pressure, and give your mind a few moments of rest.  Even if it means locking yourself in the staff bathroom!  Try this method:  close your eyes, breathe in through your nose for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, then exhale for a count of 4.  Do this for a few minutes, twice a day, and you will find yourself with increased energy and better able to serve your patients and fellow staff.
• Turn off all electronic devices 30 minutes before going to bed. Whether you work the day or night shift, getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult.  Studies show that using electronics (scrolling through Facebook, staring at a computer screen, or watching telelvision) right before bedtime increases the time it takes to call asleep and often keeps us from getting much needed restorative REM sleep.  Try it for 15 days and see if it makes a difference for you
• Treat yourself. Buy one new item for your workday that will make you smile this year.  It can be a new lunchbag, stethoscope cover, jacket for work, or a new pair of scrubs.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it will serve as a reminder that it’s okay to have a little fun and happiness at work.
• Mentor a new staff member. Remember how you felt the first few days (even months) into a new career?  Find a new member on your team and ask her to lunch or for a quick coffee after a shift.  Let her talk about her concerns, and offer your expertise.  You might find yourself learning from her as well, and you’ll grow in your confidence as a professional and a leader.
• Write one thank-you note each week—and send it. Gratitude is a surefire way to lift your spirits and foster a positive attitude in you and in others.  It doesn’t have to be a novel, just a few simple words or sentences.  Give it to a co-worker, a friend, a patient—and enjoy the happiness that comes from recognizing others.

Over here at Catalyst, it’s been a year of building relationships, learning the ins and outs of sustainability and trying to best serve the needs of women around the world.  We are excited about 2016, and can’t wait to offer new and exciting products, including pants in TALLs for all of our vertically-gifted customers.  Here’s a few of our other resolutions for our personal lives 2016:

• Buy less.  Fast fashion and clothes that we wear once or twice are irresponsible and can actually hurt the economies that receive our send-offs as “charity.”  Do we really need 7 coats and 10 pairs of jeans, or can we use the money we would spend on clothes to make a difference somewhere else?
• Find something and/or someone that inspires you and get connected with it on a regular basis. My friend Michael is the executive chef at Episcopal Community Services in Kansas City.  A classically trained chef with an impressive resume of work, Michael left his five-star chef life behind to use his gifts to serve those that need it most, but no one would call where he works a "soup kitchen."  He has trained former jobless patrons to be sous chefs, serves delectable entrees like frittatas with sauteed vegetables, wilted greens, ricotta and parmesan--created from donated food, no less--and refers to anyone he serves as his “guests.”  I can’t wait to volunteer for Michael in 2016.
• Be kind. Brene Brown (one of my favorite writers) says that when we can start to believe that everyone is truly doing their best, we can find compassion instead of resentment, and love instead of loathing.
• Support businesses that share your values. Of course, I will recommend buying Catalyst products as a great way to do this, but there are hundreds of terrific businesses dedicated to making this world a better place.  Find them and support them.
• Love yourself. Treat yourself as you would a good friend.  Be kind, patient, and understanding.  Give yourself the opportunity to screw up and make better choices.  Show yourself a little grace.

We wish you all the best for a terrific 2016!

On this, our second edition of “Make a Difference Monday,” we are excited to announce that we have achieved Pending (Start-up) Status as a Certified B Corporation!  “B” comes from Ghandi’s assertion to “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” And at Catalyst, we are doing just that!

What is a Certified B Corporation?  And why does Catalyst have “Pending” status?

Certified B Corporations meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performances. It means that our entire company is set up to promote a sustainable and ethical model of business. It's like fair trade, but instead of a product meeting a certain criteria, it's our entire business. It's an intensive performance assessment that not only looks at a company's goods, but also its treatment and impact on all of its workers, its community, and our world. All Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider this impact.  A company cannot be fully certified as a B Corporation until it has been in business for one year, but we have met all other standards of transparency and sustainability as judged by an independent organization.  It was very important for us to achieve this status early on in our company's growth, so that you as a customer can have full faith that we are "walking the talk!"

Why is this so awesome?

From the very beginning, it has been our mission to be transparent with our customers. We love sharing with you who our partner artisans are and how they make the products you love. Being a Certified B Corporation puts that third party stamp of approval on our business practices. Catalyst uses business and partnership as a force for good and that's exactly what B Lab - the nonprofit organization that certifies B Corporations - is all about! With the addition of the B label on our website and products, the assurance of our quality business practices can be quickly seen and understood. It means that you can be sure that our company will continue to be held accountable to our beliefs, to our mission, to our partners, and, most importantly, to you, our customers. Other famous B Corporations include Patagonia, Method cleaning products, Dansko shoes—we’re in great company of organizations truly making a difference!

To learn more about how B Corporations and why they matter, click here!

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Welcome to Catalyst’s first “Make a Difference Monday!”  We are excited to start kicking off your week with inspiring stories featuring those that are truly making a difference with their influence, whether on a global scale (like today’s celebrity), in their workplace, or in their community.  

If you’ve been anywhere near a TV or your smart phone recently, you have heard that Pope Francis made his American debut last week, speaking before huge crowds and holding intimate meetings with faithful supporters.  One family even made a 13,000 mile trip from Buenos Aires to New York in a VW bus to hear the Pope speak (the Pope was a fellow Argentine), and they were surprised with a private face-to-face meeting with the pontiff.

No matter your spiritual or non-spiritual leanings,  it’s undeniable that the Pope is a major political figure throughout the world, and Francis chose to use his platform to address another influential political establishment:  the U.S. Congress.  We at Catalyst were inspired by his calls to action, and thought it fitting to feature Pope Francis in our first Make a Difference Monday post.

The Pope chose to speak about cooperation to combat slavery and injustice: 

“It is important that today, as in the past, the voice of faith continue to be heard, for it is a voice of fraternity and love, which tries to bring out the best in each person and in each society. Such cooperation is a powerful resource in the battle to eliminate new global forms of slavery, born of grave injustices which can be overcome only through new policies and new forms of social consensus.”

He encouraged all people of influence to bring opportunities to those who need them most:

“Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.”

And to help bring economic opportunity to those that are at a disadvantage:

“It goes without saying that part of this great effort is the creation and distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and sustainable.  Business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving the world. It can be a fruitful source of prosperity for the area in which it operates, especially if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good.” 

Well said, Pope Francis.  Thank you for being bold and using your abilities to speak for those that need a louder microphone.  We hope his words will encourage you to find opportunities to make a difference in your Monday, and all week long!

Do YOU have someone you think should be featured on one of our "Make A Difference Monday" posts?  Are you making a difference and want to tell us about your journey?  Write to support@catalystscrubs.com, we’d love to hear your stories and feature you or someone you admire in an upcoming post.  And if you’re submission is featured, we’ll send some Catalyst awesomeness your way!