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.

According to the 2010 census, 42% of people in Ithaca live below the poverty line. The average household income is $32,712 – well below the national average of $61,937. This means that nearly half of Ithaca residents would benefit from access to affordable resources, from free community events to receiving food from a food bank. Free and low-cost activities can provide entertainment for lower-income individuals and families, while low-cost services can provide them with essential support they wouldn’t get otherwise.

Aligning with your mission

The beauty of offering free and low-cost activities is that there’s a lot of flexibility for the businesses offering them to provide a service that’s in line with the organization’s mission. Restaurants can provide free food tastings, museums can offer free admission on select days, and retail stores can hold discount days. Offering fun and free activities to bring people together may sound counter-intuitive during a pandemic, but there are countless ways to provide the community with these resources while staying socially distanced and wearing a mask. Yoga studios can offer pop-up classes in a park, and libraries and businesses can leave out take-home activity kits for families with young children.

Low-cost services, like the food distribution provided by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, work to combat the issues facing lower-income residents of Ithaca and the surrounding areas. Feeding America found that fourteen percent of Tompkins County residents struggle with food insecurity. Businesses that offer food distribution to people in need can help to alleviate some of their anxiety over where their next meal will come from. Other vital low-cost services that can be offered to community members include accessible healthcare and mental health support services, low-cost education, and support for women and families.

Free activities and services pay off

Providing these free and low-cost activities and services also carries a lot of benefits for the businesses and organizations that provide them. Consumers, especially those in younger generations, overwhelmingly indicate that they’re more likely to make purchases from a business that gives back and supports a cause. Sixty-eight percent of consumers say that they value businesses that support the local community they’re a part of.

There are countless ways to provide the community with affordable and accessible activities and resources! Ithaca.Community has compiled a list of organizations that are offering free and low-cost events and services.

Spread the word

Share the benefits of free or low-cost activities and services on social media by sharing the YouTube video, PDF toolkit, or social media images below!