(SAVANNAH, GA) COMMUNiTY HEADLiNES, March 30, 2020
April 1, 2020
Savannah’s
COMMUNiTY HEADLiNES
The Local Newswire
ENMARKET BOOSTS EMPLOYEES PAY BY $2.50
(SAVANNAH, GA) As an essential business selling fuel, grocery items and prepared foods, Enmarket’s stores across a three-state region continue to remain open to serve the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, those employees are receiving a temporary pay boost of $2.50 an hour, reflecting the importance of their role during this crisis, and the chain also will install plexiglass shields at its checkout counters as further protection for employees and customers. Meanwhile, Enmarket’s adoption of self-checkout technology in 2019 is proving its value during the current pandemic. For example, Skip Frictionless Checkout enables users to check out on their phones, without direct interaction with a cashier. www.enmarket.com
SCORE MENTORS STANDING BY
(SAVANNAH, GA) The current COVID-19 emergency is causing many businesses, especially small businesses, to be experiencing significant challenges. The very existence of some businesses may be at risk. Please know that the Savannah SCORE team of 45 expert business mentors is available to provide free business mentoring services to help you navigate these uncharted waters. Mentoring will take place by phone, video or email. https://savannah.score.org and click on “Find A Mentor” or call 912-652-4335.
LIST OF MANDATORY CLOSURES
(CITY OF SAVANNAH) After receiving regulatory guidance from the state, barbershops, beauty parlors, nail and personal care salons closed on Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m.
Additional clarifications include pawn shops, title pawn shops, landscaping services and moving services; which are considered essential businesses and may remain operational. Vape stores are not permitted to stay open. Automobile dealerships can operate their service departments, but they may not operate their sales departments. Real estate maintenance and rental services and work to execute contracts currently in existence are allowed, but all other real estate work should be performed remotely. https://www.savannahga.gov/2958/Covid-19
6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE JUST-PASSED COVID-19 RELIEF BILL
(UNITED WAY) Congress recently passed a $2 trillion emergency relief package which seeks to help millions of Americans survive this economic and health crisis. Reason #4 for this legislation is that it gives relief to small business.
(SAVANNAH, GA) VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE – Thursday, April 2 at 4 p.m.St. Andrew’s invites families with children age 3 to grade 12 to get to know the school faculty through a virtual, interactive Q & A session. Register at https://saslions.com/openhouse/ for this unique experience.
UNITED WAY
(SAVANNAH, GA) Rise to the challenge, as Americans have always done, to support those in need. Your giving helps those most affected by the pandemic. Learn how United Way is responding to COVID-19 and helping the community during this difficult time: https://untdwy.org/2IVKXV3
(SAVANNAH, GA) With the challenges of COVID-19, and a city under a “shelter at home” mandate, local real estate agents are getting creative by offering virtual open houses and and tours through video and social media. Here’s an example of a a virtual tour:
(SAVANNAH, GA) DIRTTbags Donate to Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society for World Down Syndrome Day https://youtu.be/hyhvWakliJs
PEACOCK AUTOMOTIVE
(JASPER COUNTY, SC) While battling the pandemic together with the community, Peacock Automotive dealerships in South Carolina are fully operational with social distance guidelines and sanitation efforts in place. The staff is offering virtual test drives and no charge delivery of purchases to the local community. The sales departments at Peacock Hyundai Savannah and Savannah Volkswagen are open by appointment only due to the shelter in place order for Savannah. The service departments are open with normal hours, and social distancing is being practiced. A key drop-box is available for clients who do not wish to have contact. Peacock Automotive remains committed to providing customers a clean, friendly experience. Extensive sanitation efforts are in place, and employees are using gloves to handle vehicles. As the situation changes with the virus, Peacock Automotive will continue to update clients and re-evaluate and improve its measures to ensure the safety of everyone we encounter. For more information or any assistance, please call (843)-208-1258 or visit online at https://www.peacockautomotive.com/.
HOSPICE SAVANNAH
(SAVANNAH, GA) Hospice Savannah is committed to maintaining its exemplary level of care for patients and families as our nation grapples with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The staff is monitoring CDC guidelines to ensure correct precautions are utilized in order to continue to provide safe and outstanding care. Both Hospice Savannah, Inc., and the Steward Center for Palliative Care remain open and dedicated to serving the public while also striving to patients are in prepared and capable hands throughout this extremely difficult time for the nation and world. Where possible, some staff members are working remotely to comply with emergency declarations.
(SAVANNAH, GA) Park Place Outreach Youth Emergency Shelter has announced the appointment of a new board president and three new board members. Tammy Stokes, Chatham County Recorder’s Court Chief Judge, will serve as the board president in 2020. Stokes has served on the Park Place Outreach board since January of 2019, and succeeds Salita Hill, who served as the organization’s board president in 2018 and 2019. The new board members are Erina Tandy; Hunter Hall, with Hunter T. Hall Consulting; and Megan Manly, law clerk for the U.S. District Court.
(SAFE CITY) Local security company seeking business owners’ input on where to place free security cameras during this crisis. https://safecitysav.com/community
PEACOCK AUTO MALL DONATES FOOD TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT
(JASPER COUNTY, SC) The on-site cafe at Peacock Auto Mall is temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus epidemic. Peacock Auto Mall was able to donate the unused food and condiments on March 27 to Old Savannah City Mission, which serves the hungry population in Savannah. The Old Savannah City Mission is a local 501(c)(3) funded by people who care about the less fortunate and demonstrate it by giving of their time, talent and treasure. The Mission works with a staff of seven employees. This community’s dedicated servants work with hundreds of volunteers to deliver services to Savannah’s most vulnerable and needy citizens in a highly cost-effective way. If you’re interested in volunteering, visit http://www.oscm.org/
REACH ENCOURAGES HEALTHY FOOD DONATIONS
(SAVANNAH TRIBUNE) Many people have heard the saying, “You are what you eat,” without understanding the concept behind it. What and how much a person eats has a profound impact on continuing health. Eating a nutritional, well-balanced diet helps prevent health disparities. REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) Savannah is encouraging families to avoid processed foods and turn to nutritional foods like fruits and vegetables. https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/reach-savannah-encourages-healthy-food-donations/
LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY POSTPONES NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
(SAVANNAH, Ga.) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society, out of an abundance of concern about the health and safety of its members and participants at the 11th annual Night of Champions event, has decided to postpone the celebration because of the potential risks associated with the coronavirus. The event had been scheduled for April 2 at the Savannah Convention Center. https://www.facebook.com/ldssga/, call 912-436-3626 or email info@ldssga.org.
CARRIAGE TRADE PUBLIC RELATIONS® MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
(SAVANNAH, GA) Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter of a century of service to the region’s small business community. As a lead-up to the anniversary, the firm’s founder and principal, Marjorie Young, will publish “Reputation Matrix,” a step-by-step guidebook to help small businesses increase their visibility, credibility and positive word-of-mouth in the community and online. Once released, the book will be available on Amazon. For more information, visit www.carriagetradepr.comor call 912-844-9990
LILLY NEEDS A HOME
(COASTAL PET RESCUE) If you’ve been looking for a loving feline companion, Lilly could be the girl for you. This super sweetie found her way to CPR after being left when her previous family moved. http://coastalpetrescue.org/adopt/view/2018-c-129-lilly/
