Our lives have become consumed by COVID-19 and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, helpless, and to be honest, bored, right now. Boredom is a luxury for some but it’s also a reality, and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for ways to bring a little joy and excitement into your time in isolation.
At the same time, there are plenty of local businesses in need of our support right now. Retail sales are down across the country, restaurants being one of the hardest hit industries. This means that it’s more important than ever to be mindful about where and how we’re spending our money – particularly those of us who are fortunate enough to have the resources to do so amidst this time of financial distress for many.
One of my favourite ways to spend time and money pre-COVID was at Vancouver’s many vegan restaurants and businesses (Earthsave’s Veg Directory can help you easily find the ones in your area), which I hope to visit again one day soon. In the meantime, I’ve been looking for ways to support these businesses from home. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do this – and to spice up your time in isolation in the process.
Here are some of the ways I’ve been supporting my favourite local vegan businesses. Many of these examples are Vancouver-specific, but the ideas can be applied to any of the vegan businesses near you.
1. Get creative with your groceries.
One of the unexpected perks of ordering my groceries online is that I’ve been forced out of my typical routine of buying the same products at my local grocery store. Instead, I’ve been discovering new products and brands that I love. Many local vegan businesses are offering online grocery orders for delivery or pick up – some to check out in Vancouver are Eternal Abundance, Vegan Supply, Juice Truck, Turf and Larry’s Market. Larry’s is even offering same-day delivery! It’s also a great time to try out a new meal delivery service. Gomae Meals delivers vegan, zero-waste meals to your door, all from local businesses, as does Planted Meals and Chomp Vegan Eatery. So get creative with your groceries – try out a new meal, new recipe, new product or new service. My bet is that you find something you’ll continue to love even after this time in isolation.
2. Host a virtual dinner party.
Ordering takeout is the best way to support local vegan restaurants right now, and thankfully there is no shortage of options in Vancouver. One of my favourite things to do in isolation is to enjoy takeout meals together virtually with friends and family – have dinner delivered to them from your favourite restaurant or encourage your virtual dinner guests to order from their own favourite vegan restaurant and coordinate delivery times. Some of my go-tos in Vancouver are Chickpea, Meet, Kokomo, Beetbox, Virtuous Pie, and the Arbor. All of these places can be found on DoorDash. Bucha Brew is even offering kombucha delivery if you want to host a kombucha happy hour instead!
3. Treat yourself!
I think it’s safe to say I’m not the only one who’s been baking a little more than usual these days. A sweet treat can be the perfect way to brighten up your time in isolation. If you’ve used up your stock of flour or aren’t in the mood to bake, why not order dessert from a local vegan business that could use your support? You can order Umaluma gelato for delivery on UberEats, or find Edible Flours and Vegan Pudding & Co on DoorDash. Flourgirl is taking orders for pick-up and Fairy Cakes is offering both delivery and pick-up.
4. Let someone know you’re thinking of them.
It’s important to find ways to connect with each other from a distance. Receiving a small gift from someone I love has done wonders to boost my spirits and make me feel connected during this time. Gift cards are a great way to support local businesses, and are also a great way to let someone know you’re thinking about them. Try sending a gift card for a local vegan coffee shop or cafe and encourage your friend or loved one to enjoy a warm drink or snack. These small, thoughtful gestures are needed right now, and showing someone you care while supporting a local vegan business is double the warm and fuzzy feelings!
With Mother’s Day approaching, there are many local gift options to consider. Turf has put together meal boxes, which would make a great gift for mom if you can’t cook for her yourself, as would a Vegcuterie board from Larry’s Market, a cheese board from Blue Heron, or a brunch box from Kind Cafe. Daily Palette has put together a Mother’s Day gift box of local vegan products, or there are many local vegan businesses like Zimt Chocolates, K’pure Naturals, Harlow Skin Co and United & Free that you can order for delivery.
Photo by Dhaya Eddine Bentaleb on Unsplash
