Giving Back in Tough Times - Supporting Small Businesses

We’ve all experienced tough times in our lives, but most of us have never witnessed anything as impactful and all-encompassing as this pandemic and the state of the world right now. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 that we are experiencing is unprecedented in its scope. Everyone has been impacted in some way; contracting the virus yourself or by loved ones, having your business shut down or impacted, losing your job, being “furloughed", or losing some or all of your hard-earned savings. This virus has affected us all.

In the midst of this horrific time, it warms my heart to see how people rise up and want to help.

I have been so fortunate to work with small businesses whose primary motive for creating their business was to Give Back. They are helping to support fair trade workers in countries all over the world by creating jobs for them to support their families. They create products that employ and support young US moms and victims of human trafficking. They give solar energy, clean water, and hearing aids to people in need. These business owners are also trying to save our planet by creating sustainable products through recycling or upcycling. They didn’t pick these businesses because they are easy or the most profitable, they created them because they truly care about our people, animals, and our planet. 

I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me when I started getting emails from our supplier partners that said they want to give back even more. Even though they are greatly impacted as small businesses by the pandemic themselves. Their first reaction was “how can we help”. These small businesses are donating part of their proceeds, profits and products to our frontline medical workers and helping to feed our elderly citizens and families in need. It makes me feel so proud to be able to work with these wonderful people.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”-Ghandi

We give back because it teaches us to find compassion within ourselves and to stay attached to values that are linked to the common good.

I hope that we all continue to support small “social good” and “green” businesses during this pandemic and beyond. Support them because they do care and they are here trying to make the world a better place. My fear is that only large, wealthy companies will survive this because they have the finances to sustain them. We already have a huge social and economic disparity in our country and in the world and I'm afraid that this pandemic will only make it worse. 

So I ask you all to take note of all the businesses you work with, buy from or support and see how they do business and are reacting during this time. Are they protecting their workers? Are they keeping them safe and healthy?  Are they trying to retain their workers and trying to pay them or are they firing them or furloughing their jobs so they have no income? Are they using their money to help others or are they only protecting themselves? 

We have a choice where we spend our money and to whom we support. Please support the people that are trying to help us. Supporting businesses that don’t care about our society and our planet will only hurt us and create more disparity. The backbone of our country was built by small business owners. If we don’t support them now, we might not have that choice in the future. 

Ask yourself the question -

What kind of world do you want when we restart again? 

Your choices today will make a difference in the future!

We'd love to hear your feedback - Please comment below...

_________________________________________________________

With each purchase through Give Back Goods you are supporting important causes like clean water, prevention of human trafficking, environmental causes, animal causes and much more. You also support poverty-stricken communities throughout the world through Fair Trade wages & practices. Another very special part of Give Back Goods is that when you make a purchase you are literally participating in a sustainable approach to decreasing our impact on our natural resources like overused land for landfill space, impacts to our forests and pollution of our oceans. 

We appreciate your support in helping us GIVE BACK!