Support Your Local Retailers
Stay Connected to Your Community and Support Local Businesses
Over the past few months many of us will have discovered new ways to connect with our loved ones, colleagues and communities.
At Olivine by Mirvac, we have been humbled by the resilience of our residents and surrounding community during these times of change, as many businesses and individuals adopt new ways to stay connected to their customers and neighbours.
Whatever your ‘new normal’ looks like, there are lots of things you can do to support your local community. Here are five ways to get involved:
Support your local retailers
Small retailers are continuing to serve their communities through innovative new methods.
Close to Olivine, Angie’s Dumpling Bar is offering take-home frozen dumplings, Slices Family Restaurant is providing 20% discounts on all orders and Caddell Foods has special home deliveries.
Local businesses will be feeling the pinch as people stay home, so consider ordering from a couple of your local high street favourites this week if you can – whether it’s grabbing a morning coffee or ordering fresh fruit, vegetables or baked goods to your door.
If you’re not sure what your usual retailers are up to don’t be afraid to contact them to ask, they are likely to able to find a way to make things work for you and will appreciatethe effort.
Connect with your community
Communities all over the globe have adopted new ways to spreadlove and stay connected.
Rainbow murals and teddy bears have been popping up in windows worldwide as a kind reminder to those that spot them that we are all in this together.
Check out the Rainbow Trail Australia and the Australian Bear Hunt Movement Facebook pages for inspiration on how you can get involved and for feel-good posts that show reactions to rainbows and bears being spotted in communities all over the world.
Take part in community initiatives
Staying home doesn’t have to mean missing out on what your local community has to offer.
There are plenty of free and easy-to-access local initiatives to keep yourself and your family busy.
Keep active by signing up to the YMCA Victoria and YMCA Canada’s new collaboration YThrive which offers easy-to-follow fitness videos for all ages. The City of Whittlesea Senior Exercise Program is also livestreaming weekdays at 10am and you can also loan books from the Yarra Plenty Regional eLibrary from home.
Donate to local causes
Local charities and initiatives are relying on good will more than ever during this time.
Check your cupboards for excess non-perishable foods (such as canned or dried pantry goods) or add a few extra items to your shopping list and donate what you can to your local foodbank to help feed people in need.
Check out local charity Whittlesea Food Collective or explore Foodbank.com.au to find a donation point near you.
Lend a helping hand
There’s no better time to check in with your neighbours, particularly if they live independently and have been self-isolating.
To check in on your neighbours download and fill some ‘R U OK’ cards and slip them in their post-boxes and look in to Whittlesea Council’s volunteering opportunities to help out with local causes.
We would love to see how you have been supporting your neighbours and community at this time – share your photos tagging the Olivine by Mirvac Facebook page to show us what you have been up to.