Businesses pitch in to lend a hand

Businesses pitch in to lend a hand

Amid the clouds of doom and gloom we refer to as COVID-19, there is good news about people on the Gold Coast paying it forward to help those in need.

Difficult circumstances and crises bring out the best in us, giving us a chance to show our generosity and willingness to help others.

As society as we know it winds down, many of us are reaching out to others in new ways: phoning friends more regularly to check that they’re OK, helping the elderly in our neighbourhood, writing letters to aged care residents, taking part in book swaps and donating meals to the vulnerable.

Let’s give a shout out to some food businesses who have been involved in initiatives to help and support the elderly, unemployed, and healthcare workers during the crisis:

Artichoke Sanctuary Cove was one of the first businesses to welcome local seniors to visit and receive a one-litre pack of free minestrone soup to take away.

They were soon joined by Joybeans Coffee Burleigh Heads who were giving away 250g coffee free with every 1kg ordered on the condition that you gave the small pack to someone in need.

Silipo Coffee, Southport has been making $5 meals for the needy, while Marvell St Coffee Byron Bay is donating ‘Gram for Gram’ back to cafés.

Cycho’s Buffalo Wings in Southport instituted the Incredi-Bowl, where people can pay a $9 meal forward to someone in need. Owner Cyrus says that the goal is to give away 50 meals per week for starters. The business is also donating food to frontline workers.

Blackboard Varsity banded together with The Pastry Emporium and Balter Brewers to donate 100 meals (including dessert and a beer) to unemployed within the hospitality ‘family’, one for each of 100 meals sold to customers.

 

Pixel Bakehouse spends Thursdays baking bread for those in need.

BBQ Bazaar in Burleigh gave away free pasta to the elderly. Both Next Door Espresso, Tweed Heads and The Henchman, Miami have been giving away free boxes of produce for the needy.

Cruize Espresso Chirn Park has packaged free food parcels to go for healthcare staff at the front of their shop, Restaurant Labart Burleigh has given free meals to health workers, Black Lime Café Carrara has given them free coffee, while other eateries such as Randy Wallhole Southport, the Black Sheep Bistro Oxenford and Kebabs 4 You Mudgeeraba and Third Base Coffee Palm Beach have been giving 15% – 20% off coffee and meals or special deals for frontline workers.

Please support these businesses (and others not mentioned) whose owners, in a time of crisis, have reached out to help others.

NOTE: This article was published in The Sun newspaper on 15 April 2020.