Coronavirus in Hintonburg: Week Two - Support Local Business

One thing that I am grateful for is to have a steady income. I've been at my company for several years and our revenue isn't really dependent on sales. Further, Glosette Girl's job is unionized so that provides us with an extra level of security.

A lot of other people aren't so lucky. The newspapers are full of stories of Canada's economic meltdown. However, that's just telling me what was already obvious from simply walking the streets around here.

So to try and help others, at least in a small way, my family recently made a few donations to charities we felt could use a bit of extra help, including our local food bank and our church.

But charity is only half the battle. The other half is contributing to the local economy by buying stuff online when we can. A lot of good people have poured their life's work into cool local stores who, despite having no revenue, must continue paying expenses like their rent. So here is a short list of some stores who do allow you to make online purchases:

• Flock Boutique - mostly funky women's clothes but they also sell cool men's t-shirts. Fortunately I now my size. And guess what? Delivery is free in the Ottawa and Gatineau area.
• Wabi Sabi - if ever there is a time to take up knitting, it's now!

• Librairie du Soleil - many book prices are identical whether you buy it from Amazon or a local book store. So support your local! Librairie du Soleil is Ottawa's only french book store. Margot has a treat on the way!
• World of Maps - maps, maps and more map! If ever you are in the Wellington West area, check this store out. But in the meantime, this is a store worth supporting. 
• Further afield, sugar shacks like Fortune Farms will allow you to pre-order online and pick up your purchase when you arrive. Margot and I did a special run to Fortune Farms on Sunday and they informed us that contrary to what you might expect, they don't sell in bulk to grocery stores and instead they heavily rely on their walk-in retail customers.
• Where I thrive - Glosette Girl has continued her subscription to her barre studio and they are producing daily videos. She's enjoying the classes a lot! Technically her studio is in the Glebe, another Ottawa neighbourhood, but we like them so we'll let that slide ;)

And that's not to mention restaurants, who are probably suffering more than anyone. They deserve their own post.

It is easy to forget people are struggling to make a living at this crazy time. But if those with steady jobs can help them out, maybe we can give them a bit of hope that they'll survive this crisis with their livelihood as well as their health.