It’s happening everywhere - social distancing orders that leave us wondering is it safe to go out for a run, to get take out, and what’s going to happen to our local businesses? How do we stay socially distant but still maintain a healthy life while supporting each other? For those of us still working from home, maintaining some sort of normalcy can be hard. In our world, my husband and I are working full time at home while also being full-time parents. As with many others, things in our world are just weird and seem to get weirder by the day.
But one thing has come to light, and that is how Bend residents have come together to lift each other up through these difficult times. Restaurants are giving away meals during a time when it is increasingly hard for them to keep their doors open. A newly formed collaboration, We Are Bend is spreading the word to service professionals who have been temporarily laid off about which restaurants they can go to to receive free meals. This include restaurant and bar workers, and those in the entertainment and hospitality industry. Bend Pizza Kitchen, Sparrow Bakery, Poke Row and La Rosa Mexican Kitchen are the restaurants participating in the effort so far.
A local group which just formed last week, has organized a call to action to start sewing masks for those that need them. Already over 1000 people have joined in the effort! Another local small business Earthie Mama has donated her stock of all natural hand sanitizer to local homeless shelters around Bend.
I hope you are as inspired by these wonderful folks in our community as I am. This why I love Bend, we are here for each other during the best times but also during the hardest times.
Restaurants have been hit especially hard and supporting them right now is a great way to bolster the local economy. Here are some of my favorites Bend restaurants that I hope you’ll consider patronizing as long as they remain open. You can get takeout for dinner, grab a quick coffee, or even purchase gift cards to use at another time.
Boneyard Pub (and their old tap room is open for growler fills!)
While these are just a few local spots to consider, there are hundreds of wonderful establishments in Bend that will take quite a hit during these tough times. For a full list, check out Visit Bend. I also have a longer list on my instagram page you can check out (see my highlights). And as always, if you need anything please don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s not about real estate right now, it’s about coming together as a community. If you are sick or elderly and need something delivered, I’m happy to drop food or medications at your doorstep; if you just need someone to chat with because your partner (or child) is driving you crazy, give me a call or send me a text! If you or someone close to you is struggling because they’ve been suddenly laid off or are out of work, I can help point you in the right direction to possibly get some help.