This May we are all about supporting our community and I want to talk about how we can help out by supporting local, small businesses. With almost every state opening back up to some extent, our local communities need all the help they can get to ensure their businesses get back up and running. Unfortunately, a lot of stores and restaurants will have difficulty getting back to the way things were with all the restrictions that will still be in place.
So how exactly can we show support to those in our community? I’m here to spark some ideas and hopefully show you ways that you can give back. I know we can be limited with our autoimmune diseases in regards to eating out, or enjoying beverages. And maybe it isn’t in the budget right now to give a generous donation. But there are numerous ways that we can give back to our local businesses and you can make it a fun activity while you’re at it. Giving back is good for the soul and can really fulfill you while doing it so!
My husband and I decided to set aside money in our budget during this quarantine to support one different local business each weekend. We made it fun by taking turns choosing which one we would support and were able to help a lot of different people in the process. We picked a variety of different businesses ranging from take out from local sushi joints, to gluten free bakeries, to –go coffee for a crowd, wineries doing to –go bottles, and even our pet’s doggie day care. Because my husband is not immunosuppressed, he took one for the team and would venture out to pick up items and leave generous tips. Anything we could do to help these people out.
This may even be a time where you can explore areas of your community to see what businesses are out there to help out. If you aren’t able to eat out due to dietary restrictions, are you able to swing it in your budget to donate coffee or lunch to your local police department or healthcare workers? Are there restaurants you love to eat at that aren’t open that you could buy gift cards for? How about fitness studios offering online classes for a fee that you could commit some time to? Instead of ordering from online giants like amazon or target, are there local alternatives that you could shop from? For instance, my husband and I love coffee and instead of ordering it from thrive market or target we order from a local roaster and just paid a little extra in shipping costs.
You can also look at places like facebook marketplace and local etsy shops to support people who are capable of making masks or other protective equipment for your family and other essential workers. Are there a lot of farmers in your area? Look into joining a local CSA or farm share. Forbes put out a list of 15 ways you can support your local communities here, which just gives even more ideas on how we can help out. Small businesses are so essential to our communities and for building a foundation for us when we are able to venture out safely. As much as it is important to give back, it is also important that we stay safe for our health and the health and safety of our families. Do what you can to show your support but always remember that you come first!
–Kelsey
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