Judy, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I have not seen many small local shops with as nice an online site as in your example. It’s a good idea to support local small business. The web of ramifications of this event are complex and far reaching. My children attend colleges that are switching to distance learning, and my husband is a professor who is scrambling to prepare because his college is doing the same. Not every college student will leave their college town. Many of them rent apartments and can stay in their college community. Students in dorms are the ones who need to quickly plan for a new living situation. They are being forced to adapt at a time when many of them lack confidence in their self reliance. They will lose direct social connection and support of peers and mentors. My son’s program typically has a capstone project presentation day that draws potential employers from all over the country. Most students end the day with a job offer and confidence of employment after graduation. Plans for that event are suspended leaving an entire group of seniors at his college extra anxious about finding future employment. My coworkers daughter is a senior and also feels anxious to be without proximity to the job placement resources of her campus.
In my community, many businesses large and small, are closing temporarily or greatly reducing personnel and hours. This will lead to reduced disposable income. People are worried about making mortgage payments and having enough money for food, Public schools in two local counties so far have opted to close for a full month. A large percent of the children in these public schools receive free breakfast and lunch. Purchasing extra food for an entire month, unexpectedly, when already at the low income/poverty level is going to create undue stress. I am well aware that this is a fashion forum, and in generally agree that if possible, I would support small local businesses ahead of large conglomerates who are better able to survive the economic impact of such an event. However, if the federal and local government do not come up with a viable way to provide food to the children effected by school closures, my spare cash will be going to the local food banks, and to programs that will get food to the families most in need.
