Senior Discounts: Investing in a Worthy Cause
Seniors above 80 have even higher rates of poverty due to greater vulnerability to income risks. This can be attributed to the fact that many have little to no earnings and are more likely to incur increased medical expenses. By offering a senior discount, businesses can give older customers one less financial concern to worry about.
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Connecting communities: Why free WiFi is beneficial for businesses and customers
In this highly interconnected digital age, staying up-to-date on breaking news, work emails, and last minute calendar changes means having access to Wi-Fi. Offering free Wi-Fi in shared spaces creates a mutually beneficial environment for customers, colleagues, and the greater community. Fast, secure, and reliable Wi-Fi will not only expand your customer base, but it will also help you foster a collaborative space and new opportunities for your business.
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Business is Booming for Plant-Based Foods
Customers seeking alternatives to meat would have been hard pressed to find tempeh and seitan in a typical U.S. grocery store a decade ago, but today, these popular substitutes, as well as the emergence of plant-based proteins that emulate the texture and flavor of meat, are part of a plant-based food boom that is projected to reach $140 billion by 2029.
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All change is difficult, sure, but should it really be this hard to change a diaper?
Caring for a baby is hard enough, but for many families finding a safe place to change a dirty diaper is as challenging as finding a vegan option in a steakhouse. Modern families come in all shapes and sizes, but despite the huge range of family norms, baby changing stations are still offered almost solely in women’s restrooms.
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All-gender restrooms benefit all people
In the past few years public restrooms have gotten a lot of attention. To many people this may seem like a silly thing to be up in arms about; it’s just a restroom, isn’t it? The thing is, though, that restrooms are a key factor in determining how we interact with our community. If you can’t access public restrooms, you can’t access public spaces. For some this has never been an issue, but for many different groups of people this is a daily struggle. All-gender restrooms benefit all people.
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Creating friendly spaces for those with Sensory Processing Disorder
People with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can have a hard time processing sensory information if their sense of sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell is overwhelmed, according to the STAR Institute. When overwhelmed, people with SPD can succumb to sensory overload, causing them to feel a great amount of stress, anxiousness, and physical pain. In order to make the Ithaca community more accessible for people with SPD, we need to consider sensory needs when designing businesses and public facilities.
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Is there such a thing as free or low-cost childcare in Ithaca?
As I was exploring the topic for this blog post, I decided to turn to the Facebook group “Mutual Aid Tompkins” to get the local scoop from Ithaca parents and caregivers. This question was the very first response to my post asking about personal experiences with free/low-cost childcare in Ithaca. The semi-sarcastic comment from a local parent gives an honest look into the harsh reality of affordable childcare options in the Ithaca area.
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The great value of offering free or low-cost activities and services
There has never been a more important time to offer your community free and low-cost activities and services! The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial stress for families and individuals in ways that many never would have expected, and this is an opportunity for businesses and organizations to give back to the communities that support them. Access to free and low-cost activities and services fosters a sense of belonging in a community, where people have access to entertainment and essential resources alike regardless of their financial status.
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Food Insecurity in Ithaca and Tompkins County
Food insecurity is an immense problem, and it is estimated that over 2 billion people worldwide don’t have access to sufficient food, over 25% of the world’s population. According to the USDA, food insecurity affects nearly 17.4 million U.S. households at some time during the year.
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Have extra food? Share it with your neighbors
What are food sharing cabinets? According to Mutual Aid Tompkins, food sharing cabinets are “outdoor food cabinets across the county that have been set up by community members. These cabinets are regularly stocked with non-perishable food and are open to anyone.” Cabinets are open 24/7 and anyone can drop off items as well as pick them up.
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