Collinwood Community Comes Together to Support Local Businesses
You may have seen the meme here going around online. We know - it's got a typo in it. But the point is still good! For years and years, our local businesses have been supporting our raffles and fundraisers and community events. They've also hosted our parties and baked our birthday cakes and cleaned our suits and cut our hair and made our wedding flowers and too many other things to even begin to list. Our small local businesses -- they're our community, just like our neighbors are. And right now, they're going through a really hard time. Imagine if all the businesses that had to close or cut back for the Coronavirus crisis never came back -- all those services gone for good, and all those jobs with them. We want to do what we can to not let that happen.
So we're doing what Collinwood does -- we're coming together as neighbors and helping each other out. Here are some of the ways you can help those local businesses you love, so they'll still be here to teach you yoga or fix your car or print your Tshirts and business cards. Take these as suggestions, use the ones that make sense for you, and come up with your own ideas. But however you can, try now more than ever to be a good neighbor and support our local businesses.
Buy a gift card. Lots of local businesses have started offering gift cards online, so check the website and see if that option is available. You can use it to buy the services you count on when we get back to business as usual. And gift cards also make great gifts -- if you have a gift-giving event coming up, consider giving local gift cards.
Order to go. Some establishments can still offer take-out, delivery and even curbside pick up. Keep on enjoying your favorite coffee, pizza, breakfast -- whatever. Staying home is more fun with good food. Buy a little extra for a neighbor who's homebound.
Pay it forward by paying for the services you would have used. If you've still got your job and you know your barber doesn't, consider sending a check for the amount you would normally have budgeted for hair cuts. They'll take good care of you when they get back to work.
Make a donation. Some of the places we love are nonprofits, and most of them can accept donations online. Lots are still working hard to help people suffering from this crisis -- so show them some love. Gifts of any size are appreciated.
Spread the word. Let your neighbors know, share on Facebook, like and follow on social media, post a great review. We know the status of local businesses is changing all the time -- some are still closing, others are adding online options or delivery. Here are some places you can go to get more information.
Gift Bomb Collinwood Businesses - this is a Facebook page set up by residents to support businesses right here in Collinwood. Like and share the page, and check it regularly to get ideas for businesses you can engage with and support right from your home.
Check with Greater Collinwood Development Corporation -- our CDC is compiling complete lists of area businesses and what they're offering during this shutdown. You can visit their website at www.greatercollinwood.org.
Subscribe to Nan's Neighborhood Notes -- this weekly newsletter is packed with all kinds of information about what's going on in and around Collinwood, including weekly updates on our local businesses. Sign up by sending an email to nankennedy@yahoo.com.
Check the Scoop on Collinwood - the Scoop is much more than a round-up of great summer happenings, it's actually an info-packed year-round resource. Get all the latest on COVID-19 resources and much more by visiting www.collinwoodscoop.org.
We all know what we need to do to stay home and stay healthy. Let's do what we can to keep our neighborhood strong, too.