Page 5 - YHS 4-2020

Your Hometown Shopper April 2020 5

Dear Neighbors,

Like you, we here at Your Hometown Shopper – our employees and our
business – have been affected by the changes we are making to “flatten
the curve” and minimize the spread of coronavirus. Yet the more we are being
asked to isolate ourselves, the more creative I find we are becoming at using
technology to reach out in meaningful ways. We have been following so
Maxine Carter-Lome
many of you on Facebook - your business pages and posts and comments on
community pages - and it makes us feel proud to be a part of this community-wide effort to share
information and spread words of support and encouragement during this difficult time. It reminds
us that we are all in this together.

At a time like this, small business owners are being especially hard hit. Every decision we make has
a ripple effect, and impacts our employees, vendors, and suppliers. We know how this goes, and
each of us will be making even more sacrifices and lifestyle changes in the coming weeks in order
to get through this and come out the other end. Our Towns leaders, the Central Mass South
Chamber of Commerce, community leaders, local media outlets, and engaged citizens have stepped
up with everything from disaster relief financing information to disseminating information so
residents know what local businesses are closing and how others, in new ways, are still providing
goods and resources to their customers and community.

While a lot of the online community social engagement has been around our local restaurants
as they shift their business from dine-in to take out and delivery, I am reminded by our local
contractors and retailers that they, too, are struggling. They, too, have work crews, staff, salespeople
and bills to pay. Many, like our independent contractors, landscapers, business professionals and
service providers, can still conduct business while maintaining the social distance required for safe
interactions. Just like our restaurants are asking you to support them by taking out or buying gift
certificates for a future night out, now is the time to schedule projects around the house, prepare
your lawn for spring, and take care of things related to everyday life. Now, more than ever, we need
our local businesses and they need us!

Your Hometown Shopper, “Your Source for all Things Local,” is also doing its best to help
centralize and communicate information from our advertisers and community organizations. Please
Follow Us on Facebook at facebook.com/YourHometownShopper, or go to our website
(SturbridgeShopper.com) for the most updated information available. Have information or updates
to share? Send it to yourhometownshopper@gmail.com and we will help spread the word.

We wish you well and good health during these uncertain times. We are here for you now, as we
have been for over 15 years, and will be here when things return to normal. Email us at yourhome-
townshopper@gmail.com and let us know how we can help.

Sincerely,

Maxine Carter-Lome
Publisher, Owner, Your Hometown Shopper