How to Support Local Businesses During COVID-19
Local small businesses, including those around Yonge-Dundas Square, are facing some tough times as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll on their work flow and income. As we self-isolate and practice social distancing, it’s import now more than ever to support your favourite shop or restaurant in any way possible. Below are some ideas on how you can help.
Photo: @marco_l via Instagram
Distantly.ca
Missing your favourite coffee shop or hoping you can still visit your favourite bar when the pandemic is over? If so, you should consider donating to them using distantly.ca.
This online donation platform allows community members to make direct donations to small businesses to help lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local businesses are encouraged to set up their accounts at distantly.ca so they can receive financial support for overwhelming expenses such as rent and payroll.
Those who are able to contribute to the survival of local businesses should visit distantly.ca to make a donation. All contributions go towards supporting businesses with any overwhelming expenses.
The platform was developed in partnership with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), a non-profit umbrella organization working with Toronto's 83 Business Improvement Areas, representing more than 40,000 business and property owners, and Digital Main Street, a City and TABIA initiative to help main street businesses open an online presence.
For more information, visit distantly.ca.
Photo: @hashgarble via Instagram
#YongeLocals
The Downtown Yonge BIA has launched a new marketing initiative to highlight the businesses operating in the Downtown Yonge community during this difficult time, and the local Torontonians behind them.
For those running a business in this area, or if you know someone who does, the Downtown Yonge BIA wants to help. Whether you are offering online wellness classes, takeout and delivery, or have an online retail space, they want to showcase you.
All you have to do is fill out their form and they will highlight your business on their social media channels and website at no cost.
To have your business participate in the #YongeLocals initiative, click here to fill out their quick information form.
If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the Downtown Yonge BIA at bia@downtownyonge.com.
To Go Toronto
Toronto’s restaurants in the Yonge-Dundas neighbourhood and across the city are extremely important to enhancing the vitality of our diverse community. Although restaurants have had to close their dining room doors to guests in this uncertain time, many kitchens remain open and they need your help to stay afloat.
To Go Toronto has compiled a list of many restaurants that are still offering delivery and takeout at this time. Restaurant owners can also add their restaurant to the list to reach more customers.
As To Go Toronto says, food has always brought us together!
Photo: To Go Toronto
Interactive Map of Take-Out & Delivery Options
Local food writer, Suresh Doss has been working to create an interactive map of hundreds of restaurant in the city that are still open for take-out and delivery during this time, including those in the Downtown core.
Doss also put a callout on his Facebook post for anyone to add a restaurant that is not yet on the map. So if you’re a restaurant owner or if you have a favourite restaurant and it’s not on the map, you can comment on Doss’s post so more people can help support your favourite place. And, if you’re tired of making home cooked meals every single day, check out this map to see what restaurants are still offering takeout and delivery in the neighbourhood.
Photo via Google Maps
Other Ways to Help
Wondering how else you can help the effort to fight COVID-19? The City of Toronto has many resources on how to get involved or donate on their website that you can view by clicking here. While all donations are greatly appreciated, during this difficult time, the most important thing is to follow public health advice, including practising physical distancing and staying home except for essential tasks.
We’re all in this together and we can’t wait to see you at the Square as soon as it is safe to do so. Until then, stay home and stay safe!
Photo: @hckyramo via Instagram