Directories aim to help restaurants succeed during COVID-19 crisis
Berkshire County — Though all area restaurants have closed their dining rooms to customers for the time being during the COVID-19 outbreak, many are still open for take-out and delivery.
Eat Berkshires helps restaurants spread the word about what they are currently offering while providing a straightforward, easy-to-use platform to help the community search, find and contact restaurants directly to order food. The website allows restaurants to post current information and make updates as circumstances change. For more information or help in getting a restaurant listed, contact Tom Sharpe at tom@mungy.com.
1Berkshire has developed a list of area restaurants along with their current offered services, and invites restaurants to contribute information about their situations.
Berkshire Food & Travel maintains a “Local Shopping in Hard Times” list on the front page of its website of local farms, restaurants and shops that offer delivery and/or curbside pickup.
–E.E.
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Downtown Pittsfield Inc. announces online store for local gift cards
Pittsfield — Downtown Pittsfield Inc. has launched an online store in which the public can purchase gift cards in the amount of $25, $50 or $100 to local restaurants, retailers and cultural organizations. DPI asks the public to purchase gift cards now to help sustain their favorite businesses, saving the cards for when normal business operations resume. There are currently more than 40 businesses selling gift cards through the new store.
Local businesses that are selling gift cards through the DPI site include: Albany Berkshire Ballet, Barrington Stage Company, Beacon Cinema/Phoenix Theatres, Berkshire General Store, Berkshire Graphics Inc., Berkshire Paint and Sip, Berkshire Running Center, Berkshire Theatre Group, Berkshire Yoga Dance and Fitness, Carr Hardware, Circa, Clark Vintage Lighting, Currency Coffee, Dettinger Lumber Company, Diane Firtell Designs, Dory & Ginger, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, Eat on North, Flavours of Malaysia, the Hair Studio, the Highland Restaurant, Hot Harry’s Fresh Burritos, Hotel on North, House of India, Jones Trophy, the Lantern, the Marketplace CafĂ©, Melanie Flynn Massage Therapy, Mission Restaurant, Otto’s Kitchen & Comfort, Panchos Mexican Restaurant, Patrick’s Pub, Peace Train Tees, Pittsfield Health Food Centre, Radiance Yoga, RJ Stohr Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, Steven Valenti’s Clothing, That’s a Wrap CafĂ©, Thistle & Mirth, Thrive Diner, Tito’s Mexican Grill, Township Four Floristry & Home, and Wandering Star Brewery.
DPI maintains an online list detailing how Pittsfield’s businesses are operating. DPI will continue to update the list.
–E.E.
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Massachusetts nonprofits feeling strained by COVID-19 outbreak
Boston — The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and Philanthropy Massachusetts have released findings from their survey of nonprofit organizations on the anticipated and real impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the state’s nonprofit sector. The results from the survey — which received over 950 responses from nonprofits of all sizes and fields, and from all regions of the state — underscored the enormity of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on nonprofits’ essential operations, programs and services.
Sixty-three percent of nonprofit respondents indicated that they were experiencing or anticipating a loss in their annual revenues. In addition, 52% of respondents characterized the severity of impacts related to the COVID-19 outbreak as “high” and 43% characterized the severity as “moderate.”
Nonprofits indicated a range of specific impacts to their organizations. Eighty-nine percent of respondents reported the cancellations of programs or events, 67% reported disruptions of services to clients and communities, and 60% reported anticipated budgetary implications related to strains on the economy. Additional impacts on nonprofits included increased and sustained staff and volunteer absences (28%) and increased demand for services from clients and communities (25%).
Additionally, nonprofits noted that they are working to respond or anticipated responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in the following ways: rescheduling or canceling programs or events (e.g. fundraisers) (92%); staying informed via news and updates from government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (91%); encouraging proper hygiene and cleaning procedures (89%); and encouraging sick employees to stay home (87%).
Finally, nonprofits responded that they need financial relief, more information and best practices, and remote work/work from home support to weather the crisis.
–E.E.
