As you spend a LOT more time at home, you may be wondering, how can I help? After some quick online and over-the-phone research, we came up with few ways you can impact local businesses:

1. Order merchandise online. Many restaurants, bars, hotels and tourism-related businesses have cool stuff you can buy to demonstrate your support. Buy a cap and a coozie from your fave watering hole and post a pic on social media! Raise a branded glass from your neighborhood restaurant and share with your friends.
2. Write that review you meant to post months ago. Reminisce about that delicious meal with the equally delicious server and post on Yelp, TripAdvisor or google. Or, better yet, write directly to the business and let them know that you can’t wait to go back!
3. Volunteer. Deliver food to those who are home-bound through Meals on Wheels. Help local restaurants by finding places for them to donate perishable foods. Share information about nonprofits closest to your heart on social media. They are hurting too. Many were counting on revenue from events that were canceled. AND – don’t forget to give during the 2020 Giving Challenge April 28-29. Go to: cfsarasota.org/nonprofits/giving-challenge for more information.
4. Purchase gift certificates for future use. This will help put money in the pockets of struggling tour guides, boutique hotels, restaurants and shops. Think about how much fun it will be to use them when this thing is over!
5. Don’t ask for a refund, request that the money you’ve already spent on a show or a trip be put against a future adventure. If you can afford it, consider it a donation or a “sunk cost” and speak to the small business owner about making this shift.
6. Start planning for the future! Check out menus from that restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. Reach out to the photographer you want to shoot your family portrait. Virtually visit a local hotel or condo for a staycation down the road. Share your plans on social media with friends and tag the business. Get others excited about exploring the community!
7. Check out what they’re doing online. Hosting a free workout on their app? Offering special deals on Facebook? Show your support by participating, liking and sharing. Help keep these businesses at the top of everyone’s minds.
8. Be kind, compassionate and patient. Not everyone can afford NOT to get a refund but realize that you’re not the only one asking, so it may take a few days. Right now, many are struggling financially and are juggling many things at once.

Remember, we’re all in this together. When we come out on the other side, hotels will be booked, there will be lines around the block at restaurants, we’ll be TP’ing the neighbor’s yard, the stock market will have rebounded and we’ll all be getting together with friends we haven’t seen. In the meantime, let’s all do our part to make sure that our favorite businesses are waiting for us with open arms.