There are so many incredible aspects of Charlotte, North Carolina. Nestled in the heart of the Carolinas, Charlotte is the ideal blend of “big city” and “small town”. While the city is home to nearly 900K people, the greater Charlotte community is packed with passion and love for one another.
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected communities around the world, our neighbors around Charlotte are feeling the impact of stay-at-home orders and the challenges both businesses and employees are facing as a result of these new changes.
Support Small Businesses 
Charlotte’s packed with everything from custom boutiques to furniture stores. While these stores may have closed their doors, most are making accommodations and finding new ways to serve customers as best they can. Whether online or over the phone, contact your local mom and pop shop to find out how they’re adapting their business – trust us, they’ll be glad to hear from you! Gift cards are an evergreen way to support local businesses, providing immediate financial support while stocking you with future gift for birthdays, holidays, or even your own future purchases.
Place a Pickup Order 
New location data from Google shows that retail and recreation traffic is down 40% in Mecklenburg County. The restaurant scene in Charlotte is incredible, offering everything from deep-South staples to world-renowned fine dining. Having a dine-in experience might currently be out of the question, but most restaurants have pivoted to offer curbside pickup to continue serving their customers. Ordering a take-out order may not seem like much, but the impact that your support has on both the bottom line and the morale of local restaurateurs.
Give a Virtual Tip 
For those that frequent the wide variety of restaurants and bars around Charlotte, you’ve likely had the opportunity to experience the top-tier service that servers provide. While take-out orders are supporting the businesses, the thousands of bartenders and servers around the Charlotte area are still having a large portion of their income slashed as people stay home. Charlotte Agenda has created an application connecting patrons with servers around the area who need extra support during this time – when you pour a drink or serve a meal at home, provide a tip to a local server to help keep them afloat!
Check On Each Other 
This is the easiest step that anyone can take to help during the coronavirus pandemic. Calling a relative, having a video chat with a friend, or sending a text message to someone that you’re thinking about is an important part of keeping yourself connected and supporting others emotionally. There’s no getting around it – the current situation is frightening and stressful. Asking someone how they’re doing and how you can help them seems insignificant, but it could be exactly what that person needs to help get them through the day.
As it stands, the future of the coronavirus pandemic remains uncertain. By supporting the local businesses that are such a large part of Charlotte’s incredibly diverse culture and looking out for those in need, our community can pull together and support each other through whatever trials may come our way.
