Reward Restaurants
The food industry is one of the few not utterly monopolized in America. As prices and cuts drive food insecurity, small restaurants will struggle. They are the first budget item most families cut.
To the extent your budget allows, shift all spending from national chains to local ones.
How to do it:
Begin by reviewing the restaurants you already like. Shift whatever budget you have towards locally-owned ones. Prioritize minority-owned, or progressively minded ones. If they have a pride flag or a “no-ICE” sign, tell them that’s why you stopped by. If you are reducing your eating-out budget, here are additional ways to support small restaurants during difficult times:
- leave positive reviews wherever you can
- give gift certificates as gifts (consider gifting early if they specialize in holiday food like specialty breads, cakes etc. The gift will do double duty for the store and recipient.)
- if you can, send a treat to a struggling friend periodically. This can be as simple as “I know it’s a busy week — could I send dinner?”
- publicize efforts to give back. Find the local restaurants that have a pay-it-forward, free food, or donation-based model and eat there. If it’s good, tell everyone!
- approach your favorite restaurant and ask if they’d consider implementing a similar program. Offer to help figure out the logistics.
