April 15, 2020 PAID POST » Coronavirus
Published April 15, 2020 at 3:46 p.m. | Updated April 22, 2020 at 10:16 a.m.
The snowboarding season ended early this year; by the end of March, ski resorts from Bolton to British Columbia had shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead of wallowing in grief, the staff of Burlington-based Burton Snowboards took action. "Right now," reads a post on the company's blog, "the question on our minds isn't: When can we snowboard again? It's: What can we do to help?"
Burton is just one of dozens of local businesses that have stepped up to help Vermont communities during this unprecedented crisis. Local entrepreneurs and their staffs have devised creative ways to strengthen our communities and fill the gaps in our social safety net. Some are making donations; others have shifted their businesses to respond to local needs. Read on to learn about some of their efforts.
We hope they inspire you to buy local next time you make a purchase, rather than looking for the cheapest item on Amazon. Jeff Bezos is not going to make face masks for you or deliver pastries to your town's first responders.
Skirack in Burlington is donating ski goggles to Goggles for Docs, which distributes goggles to doctors who need protective equipment.
Union Street Media founder Ted Adler, Nicole Junas Ravlin of JunaPR and former Burlington Free Press publisher Brad Robertson created Love Vermont, a free, pop-up directory of local businesses selling merchandise or taking orders online. The site also includes links to businesses' GoFundMe campaigns. As of press time, the site offered more than 200 options. According to the Love Vermont FAQ page: "It's our hope that by providing this resource, we'll be able to mobilize loyal customers to provide much-needed support for their favorite places in town."
Restaurants, retailers and other businesses play a vital role in our community, and right now, they’re struggling. It's time to #SaveLocalVT.
Order from a local restaurant. Find Vermont restaurants offering takeout, delivery and curbside service at Seven Days’ new directory: goodtogovermont.com.
Buy a gift card or season pass. For example, to support the Spirit of Ethan Allen III, you can order a gift card or a 2020 Season Passport. Paying for services in advance will help them stay afloat.
Shop local online. Some Vermont retailers are still fulfilling orders through their websites and even offering discounts on in-state delivery.
Call a local store to get the latest info. Don’t just rely on online information or social media — pick up the phone. During the coronavirus chaos, many small businesses don’t have time to update their websites.
Pay a little extra to support a local retailer. Consider it an investment in your community. Think you found a better deal on Amazon? Ask yourself: When was the last time Amazon donated to local charities or sponsored local events?
What are you doing to break the Amazon habit?
Share your story about buying local on social media with the hashtag #SaveLocalVT or fill out the form below. You’ll be entered to win a gift card to a local restaurant or store — extra credit for creativity! Dazzle us, and we’ll publish your contributions to inspire your neighbors.
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