While our businesses have been furiously pivoting their operations to continue serving customers in these extraordinary times, they are also showing creativity and generosity in directing efforts where these are most needed.
Recent examples:
Bathing Belle is making masks, and has donated 100 to Copernicus Lodge. Some of these were made with fabric donated by Old Country Shop. You can buy these on the Bathing Belle site, although the owner is in the process making more. For every sale she is giving another one away. They are currently sewing and donating their masks to Long-Term Care Homes in the city, and essential workers in our community.
Doll Factory by Damzels is making masks and donating them to front line workers at pharmacies..
Blitz Facial Bar and @BodyBlitzSpa have been able to donate 7,000 pairs of protective gloves to the Michael Garron Hospital PPE Drive in Toronto, who will distribute them to local hospitals.
The Goods has been donating meals to frontline workers at St Joes, through a group of thoughtful neighbours who are raising money to feed front-line workers. By feeding the hospital workers they’re also sustaining their community. The funds are used to pay local restaurants to make food, in the case of the Goods that money goes directly back into the community. It’s keeping their staff employed and paying our local and independently operated suppliers. Literally hundreds of local people are being fed by this effort.
Village Juicery: If you have a frontline worker who needs a little extra love, Village Juicery is taking names and delivering 100 meals per day directly to them and their teams. Over the past week, they have donated over 500 meals directly to the front line, and they’re going to continue donating as much as they can. Tag your people and e-mail info@villagejuicery.com to set it up.
Tailoress is making 100% cotton double layer masks. Email info@Tailoress.ca to order or DM @tailoress. Masks will be available for contactless purchase at Fantail Bakery Cafe and for delivery at www.fantail.biz. For every mask sold, one mask will be donated to a front line worker. Tailoress will soon be launching RoncyWraps, a collaborative effort to get locally made masks to the entire Roncesvalles neighbourhood.
Pizzeria Defina
The Defina Team made a special trip to local St. Joseph’s Hospital to thank some of the health professionals for all their hard work during this difficult time.
Barque Smokehouse
Working with My Scrubs Canada, the Barque Team was able to safely provide 100 meals to St. Joseph’s Health Centre. And dropped off meals to front-line workers at Humber River Hospital, a generous gift of the spouse of a patient.
As new businesses are able to pitch in, we will be posting updates on our Instagram @roncesvaillage. They all appear in our #LoveRoncy Highlights.