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This holiday season will be unlike any other. COVID has directly impacted thousands in our community and caused intense hardship for so many family members, friends, and neighbors whose jobs, businesses, and livelihoods have been lost or severely restricted.
Throughout this most trying time, I’ve been so encouraged by the generosity and kindness we’ve shown each other. We’re lucky to live in such a community. This Thanksgiving, let us not just give thanks, but show our gratitude by giving back and supporting each other. That means donating a Thanksgiving meal to a family that can’t afford one, shopping and eating local to keep our money in our community, and skipping large family gatherings and continuing to wear masks so we can protect each other’s health.
Here are a few ways we’re trying to help the most vulnerable in our community and local businesses right now, and how you can help too:
Assistance for Local Businesses and Nonprofits
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Restaurant Relief Grant: Last week, we approved a $7.8 million grant program for local restaurants, food trucks, caterers, breweries, and wineries with funding from the state. Restaurants and food service establishments will be eligible for up to $10,000 grants and those that received money from the County’s Public Health Emergency Grant program, Reopen Montgomery, or any other program are eligible if they use this assistance for different costs.
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Tourism Stabilization Grant: Our $5 million grant program targeting tourism and arts nonprofits that have been devastated because of restrictions on visitors is up and running. We continue to work with Visit Montgomery and business leaders on assistance for for-profit hospitality businesses that likewise have been dramatically impacted since the pandemic began.
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Reopen Montgomery: These grants of up to $5,000 to reimburse local businesses and nonprofits for the costs of reopening – including protective equipment and outdoor heaters and tents – are still available.
Feeding Families Facing Food Insecurity
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Nourishing Bethesda: This coalition of local nonprofits and businesses is holding a weekly family food distribution at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and depends on the help of donations to cover the costs of feeding 300 families each week with boxes of food designed to feed four people for five days.
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Food for Montgomery Fund: The County Council, Greater Washington Community Foundation, and Montgomery County Food Council created and funded this program – which also depends on private donations – to help meet the drastically increased need for food in our community.
Shop Local to Help Local Businesses Keep the Lights On
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Bethesda Bucks: Help the business owners and employees who live in our community survive this difficult time by doing your shopping and eating with them. This e-Gift card organized by the Bethesda Urban Partnership can be used at almost 50 locally-owned restaurants and retailers in downtown Bethesda and makes a terrific gift.
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Small Business Saturday: Skip online shopping this year and do your holiday gift-buying locally with these small businesses, artisan markets, and many others whose dedication and hard work we must support now more than ever.
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