Many people have been hit hard over the last year thanks to the pandemic, especially small, local businesses.

Here are a few ways you can support local businesses during COVID-19

Order take-out

Many restaurants have joined the listings on apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, allowing you to easily order from your favourite eateries and have the meals delivered to your door. However, restaurants must pay a percentage of the cost of the meal to these companies, so a great way to support them is to order directly from the restaurant and pick up the order yourself. Many restaurants offer curbside pick-up and some have implemented their own independent delivery service, so be sure to check the restaurant's preferred method before ordering. You can also order through the delivery co-op localEats.TO or the food-ordering app Ambassador, neither of which take a cut from the restaurant's costs to provide delivery.

Shop local

Instead of ordering through Amazon or other big retailers, support local businesses by ordering directly through them. This can sometimes be done right on the shop's website for curbside pickup. You can also mask up, stroll through your neighbourhood and pop into local businesses right in your area while practicing safe social distancing. Toronto Market Co connects you with more than 100 local vendors so you can shop for unique, local items ranging from frozen foods to artisan products. There is also Not-Amazon, an amazing site that allows you to shop online at BIPOC businesses from across the nation. 

Post on social media

If you've enjoyed a recent exchange with a local business, let people know! By posting about the interaction or purchase on your social media, you contribute to spreading the word about local businesses that may be struggling to get recognition without regular foot traffic. Be sure to tag the business so your followers know how to find them, and use hashtags to help other social media users find the business, too. Popular hashtags include #supportlocal, #shoplocalTO, #shoplocal, and #shoplocalToronto

Write a review

Whether on Google, Facebook or Yelp, leaving a positive review will really help all your favourite local businesses by improving their reputation and encouraging others to trust their online purchasing options. This is one of the best ways to support local businesses during COVID-19 that won't cost you a thing. Awareness is key, and the more great reviews you contribute, the more awareness you will help bring to these businesses.