ALACHUA COUNTY – Local communities are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 in a number of ways beyond health and safety aspects. Due to social distancing, loss of jobs, less commerce and transportation, economies locally and throughout the world are facing a serious downfall.

This means that governments have had to spend much of their resources to help support both individual and businesses, which have been affected by various measures mandated by federal, state, and local authorities. One of the side effects of weakened economies, less commerce and inability to transport or import, is its effect on the supply chain, especially food.

Food organizations such as Feeding America, Bread For the World and Farm Share are working to distribute as much as they can by partnering with local community volunteers and churches. On April 29 at the Easton Sports Complex in Newberry, a long line of cars slowly wound its way past a series of tables and pallets containing bags of food. Each table had been set up with different food products at each station. As the cars slowly moved down the line, volunteers would load the open trunks with bags of food. Respecting the rules on social distancing and health cautions, each volunteer wore a mask and gloves, putting the food bags in the trunks so there was no physical interaction. Between 9 a.m. and noon, over 500 cars went through the line.

While the U.S. is the wealthiest country in the world with over $105,990 billion in wealth, there is a shockingly high number of citizens that have trouble getting enough food. In 2017, 40 million people struggled with hunger in the United States and today 45 million Americans rely on stipends from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to buy food each month, according to the USDA. Two-thirds of these benefits go to households with children.

When schools closed due to COVID-19, it temporarily cut off the meals, but educators nationwide and the Federal government have organized programs to continue the meals.

The majority of the people on food assistance programs have jobs, but many are in low income and service industries where a single paycheck makes a difference in covering the bills and food. Now, many of these jobs are gone and the families are left with no income.

Farm Share was established in 1991 by Patricia Robbins, owner of a commercial seafood company. When she retired in 1991, she founded the Farm Share program with the goal of recovering wasted produce and supplying it to various organizations and directly to the public to help alleviate hunger caused by poverty for lower income families and the elderly.

The concept was based on the fact that up to 50 percent of the produce raised on farms is thrown away. Typically stores want to provide the best product to their customers and accept only produce that is cosmetically perfect. Misshapen or blemished produce is rejected, leaving the farmer little choice but to dispose of it or use it as fertilizer for their fields.

Robbins found a unique solution by working directly with the farmers to get this wasted food to people in need. This simple but innovative idea has now grown into an organization that feeds millions of people and distributes more than 88 million pounds of healthy and nutritious food annually. Farm Share also works with the federal government to distribute packaged goods and gets donations and funds from the general public

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on Farm Share's distribution. Most of the food distribution events have doubled in people needing assistance. Farm Share has four distribution warehouses in Florida. The Jacksonville center covers much of North Florida and is doing about eight events a week in addition to doing 1,800 drop-offs to senior living facilities.

This Saturday, May 9, they will hold two distribution events in Northeast Florida for people in need. Farm Share will be at the High Springs Civic Center from 9 a.m. -11 a.m. and at the Lake Butler Community Center from 9 a.m. -11 a.m.

For other dates and locations of events or to contact the organization to volunteer time or donate funds, go to www.farmshare.org.

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NEWBERRY – Many small businesses are built on a dream—people wanting to follow a passion and start a new business in their control and direction. The new digital age has allowed these small businesses to get exposure and gain clientele. Some of the more artistic businesses also depend on art shows, fairs and exhibits to increase their market. Now, any events that includes crowds are on hold for an undetermined time. Over 24 million jobs have disappeared in fewer than two months.

Deborah Salmi is a digital marketing professional by trade, but she started her own business designing and making hand-poured aromatherapy soy candles under the company name of Ritual Tree.

“For each candle sale, I give a portion of the sales proceeds to the Nature Conservancy to plant trees in degraded areas, restore wetlands, and plant new forests,” Salmi said. “After you use your candle, the pot can be repurposed for planting. The dust cover that came with your candle, is biodegradable seed-infused paper made by a local artist and you can wet the cover and plant it”

Newberry resident Mandy Wyrick makes handcrafted bath and spa products under the company name of Ginger Bomb Naturals. Each are made by hand with natural ingredients and a large variety of scents and natural ingredients.

Dee Mullin is also from Newberry and owns a plant and succulent nursery. Mullin has over 25 years of experience as a freelance floral designer and now concentrates on designs with succulents. She has a successful business doing event arrangements, art shows and festivals.

These three independent business women have something in common. Like so many others, all future business disappeared. Salmi was looking at all her inventory of candles meant to relax and remove stress that were simply gathering dust. She also knew that despite her loss of work, there were many people still working in often stressful but necessary positions who were putting their own health on the line to provide services for the general public. There has been recognition of heroic efforts and self-sacrifice by medical and first responders in this pandemic. But there are less visible jobs that may not be as dangerous or intense, but still put the worker at risk and are necessary to maintain.

Grocery store workers have important, “essential” jobs that put them on the front lines during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Their work is high-risk because they are in direct contact with potentially infected members of the public; oftentimes with little protective gear. There are reported increasing cases in the food and service industry. It’s a hard decision to go to work every day, never knowing if you may come in contact with an invisible enemy.

It was then that Salmi contacted Mullin and Wyrick with a concept. All three had a surplus of product that were meant for relaxation and beauty, so why not make gift packages to take to grocery stores and hospitals to thank the employees for their dedication. They called the project Scents, Suds and Succulents for Essential Workers.

The idea was to help these essential workers manage their stress, using surplus inventory from canceled craft shows and farmer’s markets and put together in gift bags. These beautiful handmade gifts are designed to ease stress and encourage relaxation and let these employees know that they are appreciated.

“Our own Scents, Suds & Succulents team member, Mandy, knows this first hand because her mother, Judy Kail, is a grocery store worker in Pennsylvania,” Salmi said.

On April 28, the women took three carts of gift bags to the Publix at Hunters Crossing to give to the employees, with a little over 100 self-care bags for their workers.

That first batch of gift bags came from their own supply of handmade products and plants. They hope to continue sharing the love, but with more than 2,700 local employees of Publix alone, not to mention the other food stores in town, it’s not economically possible for them alone.

They have set up a GoFundMe page under Scents, Suds, and Succulents for Essential Workers. The link to that page is https://bit.ly/2yWeKLi

All money donated will strictly go to materials for these gifts. They hope that other people will see the purpose and value in giving a small gift of appreciation to the people working in these troubled conditions., If enough can be raised the group wants to expand the gifts to hospital workers as well.

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ALACHUA COUNTY – On March 16, 2020, President Donald Trump recognized the growing threat of the Corona virus that had grown from a single case on Jan. 20 to more than 4,500 cases and at least 88 dead in less than five weeks. Many of the countries that were already battling the pandemic had found that social distancing and limiting events with crowds had proven an effective way to slow the rapid spread of the disease.

The president acknowledged that the Center for Disease Control and members of the others health organizations were warning of the continued spread and the need to slow its pace. They recommended closing non-essential businesses, limiting events initially to 50 and eventually to10 people and staying in home isolation except for essential trips.

At that time, Trump said that Americans could be hunkered down and practicing social distancing at least until July or August. He added that the country "may be" headed into recession as businesses are forced to lay off millions of workers, and the outbreak could last into the summer, perhaps as long as August. But both the seriousness of the pandemic and the effect on the economy were underestimated.

It was a necessary step for the government to take but would have big consequences both economically and politically. Exactly one month later on April 16, Trump announced he thought it was time to reopen the country, despite cautions from medical experts, and announced a set of guidelines. The 18 page “Opening Up America Again” identified the circumstances that states should achieve before beginning the three-stage reopening process. The president also suggested a date for opening in 14 days, on May 1-4.

“We must have a working economy. And we want to get it back. Very, very quickly. And that’s what’s going to happen,” Trump said at a White House press briefing after announcing the new guidance. As many as 29 states “will be able to open relatively soon,” Trump said later in the briefing. “We have a lot of states that, through location, through luck and also through a lot of talent ... are in a very good position.”

Federal Reopening Guidelines

The guidelines state that states could consider a three-stage reopening after they “had 14 days of a downward trajectory of cases,” but left it open that they could consider all influenza-like symptoms instead of just COVID-19 cases. It also required a “downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests) and a robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing.”

Testing requirements did not include increased general public testing, which, according to medical experts, needs to be much broader than is currently available.

Hospitals also have complained that they have not received enough tests. Currently, testing is limited to people showing symptoms. There are individuals who are asymptomatic without symptoms who can carry and spread the virus, so this type of testing does not identify everyone who is infected and can spread it. It also limits the numbers of population tested, thereby decreasing the figures on actual infections.

The White house also made these guidelines not mandatory and left it up to state governors to decide when their state met the criteria to start Phase 1. So far, no state has met the 14-day downward trajectory in cases, but 29 states are opening to varied degrees. Part of the rush is due to trying to restart the economy, both nationally and locally, and get people back to work. Another aspect is political. For many governors, some citizens are tired of restrictions and want out. There have been protests in several states and some elected officials are worried it could affect the upcoming elections.

State Actions

Some states like Georgia are going full out, opening a variety of close contact businesses such as hair salons and bowling alleys and allowing group activities that were not recommended until Phase 2. Others are more cautious and extending their “stay at home” orders for another two weeks.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is supporting the reopening timeline while also trying to create a measured approach to reopening. He is trying to create a statewide policy but is determining openings based on local conditions and allowing county governments to determine when conditions are right. While this has created some confusion on what rules apply and who is in charge, it also allows more flexibility and perhaps less culpability to the state government.

Currently, the governor has approved retail businesses and restaurant to reopen as long as they use either outside facilities or only allow 25-percent capacity in interior settings. All citizens are required to wear face masks in situations where they will interact in indoor environments, but can remove masks in restaurants to eat. State and county parks are open, but social distance requirements of six feet still apply. Elective surgeries can resume. Bars and nightclubs are still closed and events over 10 people are still limited, although DeSantis made an exception for religious services. He has also reopened all beaches and hotels. Some counties with high levels of COVID-19 were not included in the governor’s reopening.

The “Stay at Home” order Governor DeSantis issued has been in effect for less than a month and was created after several counties, including Alachua County, initiated their own and maintained lower infection rates. While DeSantis has claimed, somewhat correctly, that Florida's numbers have been lower than expected due to the state's county by county approach, only two-percent of the population has been tested and there have been questions over how the data is recorded. State records initially did not include anyone who was not an official state resident, which discounted any seasonal residents. Last week, the Florida Department of Health asked the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, which sets minimum and uniform standards for statewide medical examiner services, to stop releasing its own comprehensive list of COVID-19 deaths. The medical examiners' death tally was 10 percent higher than that of the Florida Health Department,

Public Cooperation is Vital

Regardless of requirements mandated nationally, statewide, or locally, the effect of these measures is reduced or rendered useless dependent on whether the public follows them. Partial populations following guidelines is ineffective if others do not.

Some individuals believe they are immune or protected, that restrictions are an attack on their personal liberties, and are pushing to have all restrictions lifted regardless of scientific information available. Numerous conspiracy theories have surfaced and have influenced opinions without consideration of facts. An important consideration with spreading COVID-19 is not simply whether a person will get seriously ill, but the possibility of others being affected because of people disregarding mandated and recommended measures. If people cooperate and work together for the safety of all, the reopening can work. But if it is dismissed by some or rushed too early, it can cause a stronger outbreak and undo the progress already made.

This past weekend, two days before the new rules went into effect, the boat launch on US 27 on the Santa Fe River was so crowded that cars were parked in the woods and on the shoulder of the road, with the vehicles packed together. While some people seemed to maintain the distance rule, others gathered in larger groups and no one was wearing masks. It appeared that no one cared.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a situation that has not been faced in over six generations. Whether the time to reopen is premature or accurate will be determined in the next few weeks. The chance of success will be based on the decisions of leaders and on the willingness of citizens to cooperate.

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ALACHUA County – The COVID-19 virus continues to impact Florida. On April 14, the State Health Department confirmed there were 21,628 cases, an increase of 1,027 from the previous day, with an additional 111 deaths for a total of 585 deaths. The effect on the economy and businesses has been catastrophic. For many small businesses, staying closed for any length of time with no revenues could use up whatever capital and reserves the owners have and doom the business.

Southeast Florida has been the hardest hit, but there are 626 cases in North Central Florida, including 196 in Alachua County. Although increasing daily, one of the reasons that Alachua County has been able to slow the increase is because of the early “stay-at-home quarantine” requirements imposed by the county. These requirements that canceled all events over 10 people and required closing all non-essential businesses weeks before Florida Governor DeSantis made it mandatory throughout the state. These self-isolation techniques have been shown to slow the rate of transmission in other parts of the country.

Financial Assistance Available

The Federal government has passed a $2 trillion stimulus package that is unprecedented in its sheer scope and size, touching on every facet of American life with the goal of salvaging and ultimately reviving a battered economy.

The legislation will send direct payments of $1,200 to millions of Americans, including those earning up to $75,000, and an additional $500 per child. It would substantially expand jobless aid, providing an additional 13 weeks and a four-month enhancement of benefits, and would extend the payments for the first time to freelancers and gig workers.

While this will help Americans get by for a month, much more is needed for struggling businesses. The bill also offers $377 billion in federally guaranteed loans to small businesses and established a $500 billion government lending program for distressed companies reeling from the impact of the crisis.

Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Florida small businesses suffering as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the president to declare a disaster. Any state that is declared in a state of emergency or disaster area gets access to more federal funds for both business and medical operations.

Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, and small agricultural operations may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses and the SBA offers loans with long-term repayments up to a maximum of 30 years.

However, many smaller businesses also had to lay off staff, bringing the unemployment rate to record highs. Florida’s CONNECT unemployment site has been answering only two percent of the thousands of calls received, with wait times averaging more than six hours. Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is an additional program to support small businesses. The program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), provides short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses. On April 14, the DEO website states it is continuing to review applications that were received online or postmarked by Monday, April 13, 2020 and will continue to process loans for Florida businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 until available funds are expended.

A common problem is that all of these applications and receipt of funds take time, possibly months due to the numbers of people applying for assistance. For many small businesses, restaurants and bars, the current loss of income can be irreversible.

Local Business Scene

Locally, many businesses are reinventing the way they reach customers and make sales. Many have turned to internet sales and social media, giving the customers the option to shop online and order items for pick up or delivery.

Tina Lanza, who owns Lanza Gallery and Art supplies in High Springs, has turned to the internet and Facebook to make customers aware of her products and offers suggestion about what supplies work best with each art medium. Each item ordered is wiped down with antiseptic wipes and delivered to the customer curbside outside her store. Although it has been a struggle to transition from the traditional storefront sales, Lanza is seeing the business pick up. River Run, an olive oil store, is also using the internet, offering recipes and food/wine pairing suggestions for their various oils.

The High Springs Brewing company was a popular night spot with handmade craft beers, food trucks and entertainment until Alachua County closed all restaurants and nightclubs, as well as all live entertainment. The brewery was eligible to sell sealed packaged drinks for consumption off site, and they are open 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. six days a week to sell cans and large bottles of their beer. Although the take out business only produces about 50 percent of their usual income, it is enough to cover operating expenses and staff so they can continue to produce some revenue.

Some of the hardest hit businesses are restaurants and bars. Limited to only offering take out or delivery, many restaurants had to dramatically reduce staff and some closed in the hopes that the closing would not be long. Other restaurants opted to offer take-out orders only. For some, like Brown's Restaurant in Alachua, it proved to be unprofitable and they decided to close. Others, such as Mi Apa and the restaurants on Main Street in Alachua continue with varied success. In High Springs, several eateries such as El Patio and Spins are offering takeout for lunch and dinner. In Newberry, Woodyard Grill is offering daily specials in addition to their full menu for takeout.

Despite the limitations of stay at home, many people welcome an occasional chance to get out of the house for someone else's cooking, especially if they have special dietary needs or lifestyle.

Bambi's Country Market and Cafe in High Springs specializes in vegetarian dishes and micro biotic cooking and has a loyal clientele. “We have actually seen a very small drop in our business although we have cut back our operating hours to 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. We also are doing a fresh produce market on Friday of vegetables we grow on our farm,” said owner Bambi Liss.

The have set up a drive through service for people to order and pick up. “I think one of the reasons it [business] is steady is that with this virus, people are realizing that healthy eating can help build the immune system and prevent infections. We are even offering an immune boosting soup designed specifically to help boost heart, circulatory and airway strength as well as the immune system. In this time of the pandemic there is a lot people can do with their diet to help improve their health,” said Liss.

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