Coming Together During Difficult Times: Partnering through COVID 19
Photo: ©Joy Fairbanks
Four crises have simultaneously converged in the greatest immediate global threat facing anyone alive today: health, food, economic, and financial insecurity for millions of human beings. Compounding this problem is the restriction on the natural redemptive response of physically coming together to comfort and help each other. But there is still so much that we can do as friends, neighbors, and community members. It is time for repurposing our skill sets, our offerings, and our supply chains to manage this crisis and to come up with a better infrastructure and sense of purpose.
Rethink Food NYC is addressing food insecurity. This NYC based food company repurposes partially prepared food for free non-profit catering events, food pantries, and others in need. The COVID 19 crisis management restrictions have shuttered its main food sources- restaurants and corporate kitchens, and its typical means of distribution- catering events and NYC’s food pantries (30% have closed). The company has pivoted to help its suppliers and recipients by partnering with restaurants to supply fully prepared meals for direct delivery (bypassing the traditional food pantry approach) to people in need. One of their partners is Meals on Wheels, a worthy national organization delivering low cost prepared meals to homebound older adults. The impact of this approach is felt along the food supply chain from wholesale food suppliers, restaurant employees and their owners to the millions experiencing food scarcity, some for the first time in their lives.
There are businesses repurposing to provide facemasks, respirators, and hand sanitizer. How about companies with product offerings ready to go but which are not in “essential” businesses? Partnering with an essential retail outlet is an option to consider. An essential retailer (or supplier) could set aside a few feet of space that may enable a local company to place product, raise desperately needed cash, keep its workers employed, pay taxes to fund what is coming, and build community.
This is a good time to cross-sell to keep local businesses afloat. Think about the local bookstore selling a few books at the nearby market that is open. Could a gas station sell flowers? How about encouraging the neighborhood pharmacy to create a temporary display for local products? Big box stores have the space for placing the products of small businesses shuttered that may not have the cash to reopen otherwise. These small businesses are the ones that have spotted you when you have left your wallet at home. They are the ones that gave you free stuff as a kid or your first job. They donate to little league sports and preschool fundraisers. They help build our communities.
Virtually, we can also connect with many, many people. It starts with one connection. Who can you help, in any way, regardless of your circumstance? Do just one thing. Its ripple effect will help countless in your community.