PROBABLY THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO NOT GOING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN PERSON BUT THERE LOTS LEFT DO AND GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FORWARD.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED, WE HAD TO ALL WORK TOGETHER.

>> TO BE THAT CATALYST FOR HUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

>> I'M DUSTY BAKER.

PGH I'M JIM KELLOGG.

>> AND MY BUSINESS.

>> AND MY BUSINESS IS MAKING... >> ERIKA LIBERATI: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO WCNY'S IMPACT GIVEBACK PROGRAM!

I AM YOUR HOST, ERIKA LIBERATI FROM THE PARK SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AT ITHACA COLLEGE.

TONIGHT, WE ARE CELEBRATING BUSINESSES ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE WHILE WEATHERING THE STORM OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

IN THE 17 MONTHS FOLL0WING MARCH 2020, THE REGION'S SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ENDURED SHUTDOWNS AND SHORTFALLS.

THE THE STATE SHED OVER A MILLION JOBS DURING THE OUTBREAK - THAT WAS 10 PERCENT OF NEW YORK'S WORKFORCE.

DURING 2020, EMPLOYMENT IN THE RESTAURANT AND FOOD INDUSTRY DECLINED BY 43%.

AS A RESULT, SOME BUSINESSES CLOSED PERMANENTLY, SOME CUT STAFF, BUT MANY STEPPED UP TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC AND RISE ABOVE THEM.

DURING THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, WCNY WILL FEATURE AN ARRAY OF BUSINESSES IN THE AREA OF ARTS AND CULTURE, HOSPITALITY AND RESTAURANTS, AND RETAIL AND SERVICES.

UP FIRST TONIGHT, WE SHARE WITH YOU THE STORY OF THE FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL NEW YORK - AN ORGANIZATION THAT NEVER SKIPPED A BEAT IN PROVIDING FOOD AND RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITIES WHO NEEDED IT MOST.

HI, MY NAME IS KAREN AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M THE FOOD-- THE FOOD BANG IS ONE OF 10 FOOD BANKS IN NEW YORK STATE.

WE SERVE 11 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW YORK.

THE FOOD BANK'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE TRUCKS OUT EVERY DAY, DELIVERING TO OUR AGENCIES.

THEY'RE ABLE TO ORDER THE PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE AND OUR DRIVERS DELIVER DOOR TO DOOR ALL 12 MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

ANOTHER NEW INITIATIVE THAT JUST CAME OUT WITH COVID WAS THE NOURISH NEW YORK PROGRAM THROUGH GOVERNOR CUOMO OORKS' EFFORTS AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE PARTNERING WITH GROWERS AND FARMERS LOCALLY HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A PLACE, A MARKET FOR THEIR COMMODITIES BECAUSE WHEN SCHOOLS AND RESTAURANTS CLOSED, THEY LOST THAT.

SO WE BECAME THAT AVENUE FOR THEM.

AND IT WAS A WIN-WIN FOR US AND IT WAS FOR THEM AS WELL BECAUSE THEY HAD A PLACE TO SELL THOSE QUANTITIES AND WE HAD NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY PRODUCTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THE FAMILIES IN NEED THIS PAST YEAR.

>> IN THE SPHERE OF FOOD AND LEAVING PEOPLE IN TOUGH FINANCIAL SITUATIONS HOW DID YOUR OPERATIONS CHANGE HERE?

>> WE HAD A LOT OF STAFF WORKING REMOTELY BUT WE HAD OUR ESSENTIAL STAFF HERE, OUR WAREHOUSE, OUR DRIVING STAFF, SOME KEY STAFF IN THE OFFICES TO HELP MAKE THINGS, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO RUN.

BUT EVERYONE WAS WORKING HERE AND AT HOPE TO HELP MAKE-- AT HOME TO MAKE SURE AS NEEDS WERE PRESENTED, THEY WERE FILLED BY SOMETHING THAT WE WERE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.

OUR PARTNER AGENCIES ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, DOING THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

AND WE'VE GOT A DEDICATED AND COMMITTED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.

WE ARE GIVING THEM HOPE THAT THERE IS A BRIGHTER DAY AHEAD.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A MEAL ON THAT TABLE TONIGHT AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR FOR 35-- WELL, 36 YEARS NOW.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING THE WORK AND HELPING THOSE IN NEED.

>> MY NAME IS ERICA GILL GILMORE AND MY MOTHER MOTHER-IN-LAW AND I ARE THE CO-OWNERS AT THE SHOPS AT JOHNNY APPLESEED.

THEY STARTED THIS AS AN APPLE ORCHARD IN THE 60s AND HIGH END AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MADE FURNITURE AND THEN WE REOPENED IT WITH MY HUSBAND PATRICK AND IT'S THE SHOPPES AT JOHNNY APPLESEED WHICH IS A VENDOR SHOP.

ANY GIVEN DAY YOU CAN HAVE VENDORS AND ARTISTS COMING IN, ADDING NEW ITEMS AND ON THE WEEKENDS OUR KITCHEN IS OPENED CALLED THE APPLE KITCHEN.

WE ARE BUSY FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

AS A BUSINESS OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC PRESENTED CHALLENGES FOR ALL BUT WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES DID THE PANDEMIC PRESENT FOR YOU GUYS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE CHALLENGE WAS THAT WE HAD TO CLOSE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE END OF THIS WOULD BE OR HOW WE WOULD ADJUST TO IT OR WHAT RESOURCES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO STAY OPEN.

WE DID A LOT OF PRAYING AND WE KIND OF JUST TALK TOGETHER.

IN FACT ALL OF MY VENDORS PAID THE RENT FOR THE TWO MONTHS WE WERE CLOSED.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

WE'RE REALLY A COMMUNITY HERE.

WE TRIED TO APPLY FOR WHATEVER LOANS WERE AVAILABLE TO US SO THAT WE COULD STAY OPEN.

IN FACT WE DID GET THE EMERGENCY LOAN AND WE GOT THE PPE LOAN AS WELL.

WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN BACK UP TWO MONTHS LATER BECAUSE IT WAS FOOD ITEMS IN THE STORE THAT, THE CAVEAT THAT LET US REOPEN.

OUR STORE IS 20,000 SQUARE FEET.

PLENTY OF SPACE.

YOU CAN.

EVERYBODY WAS VERY RESPECTFUL WITH MASKS AND WE GOT THROUGH IT.

WE ARE A SHARED SPACE THAT CONNECT CITIZENS TO NEIGHBORS AND CONNECTS YOU KNOW, A SHOP TO AN ARTISAN.

I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE TIME IN THEIR DAY TO VISIT US AND EXPERIENCE JOHNNY APPLESEED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY NAME IS LAUREN KOCHIAN AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE MILL TON J. NSTEIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

MOST IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION.

WE EXIST TO SERVE CENTRAL NEW YORK STUDENTS.

OUR MOTTO IS DISCOVER, LEARN AND PLAY.

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND OUR CORE VALUES ARE INCLUSION, ACCESS AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC WE DID A LOT OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.

WE FOUND THAT SCHOOLS REALLY NEEDED THE EXTRA SUPPORT AND OF COURSE FAMILIES AND PARENTS DID, TOO.

SO WE HAD THINKINGS LIKE A SCIENCE HOME WORK HOT LINE FOR STUDENTS.

AND WE HAD OVER 100 STUDENTS CALL IN AND USE IT DURING THAT TIME.

WE HAD DAILY STEM ACTIVITY THAT PARENTS COULD DO WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

WE HAD DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS TO DO OUTDOORS.

WE TRIED TO CONTINUE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMMING THAT WE PROVIDE BUT WE DID IT ALL VIRTUALLY.

AND WE FOUND THAT PEOPLE WERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WERE USING THE MOST SERVICES TO ENHANCE THAT DLRNG DISTANCE LEARNING THAT KIDS WERE DOING AT HOME.

WE ADDED AT TIMES AS MANY SUMMER CAMPS AS WE NORMALLY DO.

WE ADDED A PROGRAM CALLED STEAM EXPLORERS WHICH WAS A HYBRID SCHOOL PROGRAM.

IT IS NOW GOING TO BECOME AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

CERTAINLY LEARNING FROM A COMPUTER AT HOME IS NOT IDEAL.

LEARNING FROM A TEXTBOOK IN A CLASSROOM IS A LOT BETTER, BUT LEARNING EXPERIENTIALLY WITH SOMETHING THAT IS CONTEXTUALIZED TO THEIR LIVES IS THE BEST WAY THAT KIDS LEARN.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT THE MOST MADE DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT IS STILL ACTUALLY UNDER WAY IS THAT THE DOME THEATER.

WE HAVE A SEPARATE PLANETARIUM.

WE DECIDED TO LEAVE IT CLOSED.

IT WAS AN ANALOGUE THEATER.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD LEAVE IT CLOSED AN TURN IT INTO A DIGITAL STATE-OF-THE-ART PLANETARIUM AND THEATER.

IN SOME WAYS WE ARE STILL FEELING THE IMPACT.

IT HIT US IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BEING CLOSED MEANT NO INCOME COMING THROUGH THE DOOR SO WE REALLY HAD TO RELY ON DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISING.

WHAT WE EXPECT FOR THE END OF THIS YEAR TO SLOWLY GET BACK TO WHERE THINGS USED TO BE BUT NOW WITH THE SMALLER STAFF AND A GREATER RELIANCE ON CONTRIBUTIONS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO BE A MEMBER BECAUSE YOU CAN COME TO THE MUSEUM ANY TIME FOR FREE AND ALL THESE GREAT PERKS BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST MEMBERS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MUSEUM.

AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT ALL OF THAT SUPPORT.

>> MY NAME IS ELIZABETH.

I GO BY DIZZY LIZZIE.

WE ARE A CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARM.

WE STARTED OUT AS A SMALL VEGETABLE AND FLOWER FARM.

OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR PLANT PRODUCTION.

THE BIGGEST GROWTH AS OF LATE IS IN OUR VALUE ADDED GOODS.

EACH YEAR WE KIND OF ADD A NEW VALUE ADDED PRODUCT.

THIS PAST YEAR WE ADDED CANDIED HOT PEPPERS AND SOME JAMS TO THE LINEUP OF SPICES THAT WE DO AND PESTOS.

>> IS YOUR BUSINESS OUT AT THE FARM PRIMARILY OR DO YOU OUTSOURCE?

>> PRIMARILY WE SELL HERE.

FARMERS MARKET.

>> YOU GOT EVERYTHING BASICALLY.

>> PRETTY MUCH.

>> PRETTY MUCH.

>> SHIFTING TOWARDS THE PANDEMIC AND THE CHALLENGES THAT PRESENTED YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE?

>> WE DO A LOT OF POTATOES.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE WERE LEFT WITH, THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF POTATOES WE HAD TO THROW OUT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM PRIMARILY BECAUSE RESTAURANTS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> HOW DID THE FARMERS GET BY DURING THAT TIME?

>> SPICES TOOK OFF THIS YEAR.

I WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE BECAUSE I HAD THE TIME BECAUSE OF COVID.

CUSTOMERS WERE ABLE TO BUY MORE THAN THEY'VE EVER HAD.

WE WERE ALSO VERY LUCKY, I THINK, OR FARMERS WERE, BECAUSE WE WERE ANY-- WE WERE AN ESSENTIAL WORKER AND WE NEVER HAD TO SHUT DOWN.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE YOUR FARM?

>> OUR SPICE PRODUCTION, WE ARE HOPING TO BRING IN LABOR AND BE ABLE TO MARKET TO PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY AND L.A. >> HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN I'M AT THE FARMERS MARKET, I HAVE CUSS MERS THAT I TALK TO EVERY MARKET.

THEY'LL TELL ME HOW GREAT MY PRODUCT IS BUT IT'S MORE THE RELATIONSHIP YOU BUILD WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS AND KNOWING ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT YOU ARE ALSO PROVIDING ORGANIC GOODS.

YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY MAKING AN IMPACT IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY'RE ALSO MAKING ME HAPPY.

>> OUR MISSION ISN'T TO GO SELL A THOUSAND PIECES OF GATH OR TRAIN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

OUR MISSION AT AMOURED ONE IS TO SAVE LIVES.

>> WHEN COVID SHUT DOWN THE STATE, COMPANIES LIKE AMOURED ONE HAD TO SHIFT THEIR OPERATIONS TO KEEP THEIR TEAM EMPLOYED.

>> 21 SIXTH GRADERS AND TEACHERS WERE KILLED.

>> FIND OUT HOW THIS COMPANY IS SAVING LIVES IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I'M THE CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER AND CO-FOUNDER AT AMOURED ONE.

SINCE 1985 WE'VE HAD A 1085 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, IT STILL TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRST RESPONDERS SHOW UP.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO HERE IS THE TRAINING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU CAN BUILD A WALL THAT, YOU KNOW, IS 30 FEET HIGH ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SCHOOL BUT IF THE GREETER WHO ISN'T TRAINED JUST OPENS UP THE FRONT DOOR AND LETS SOMEBODY IN, NONE OF THAT MATTERS.

WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHINGER WITH WE MADE TEACHERS AND STAFF AND ARCHITECTS, LET'S MAKE THEM THE FIRST RESPONDERS.

>> ONCE COVID HAPPENED AND YOU STARTED TO SHIFT YOUR OPERATIONS.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> WE STARTED MANUFACTURING GLASS A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE HAVE A FILM THAT GOES ON THE GLASS WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SAME MATERIALS THAT THEY USE IN FACE SHIELDS.

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHICH IS DEAR TO OUR HEART BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM THAT WORK FOR US.

WHEN COVID HAPPENED A 9 SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN SO WE HAD MORE TIME ON OUR HANDS AND WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE SAME SECURITY FILM WE RECEIPT ROW FIT ON CLASS AND CONVERT IT INTO FACE SHIELDS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FACE SHIELDS WE PRODUCED AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE WORKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE UNCERTAINTY WAS HAPPENING.

IT IS REWARDING FOR THEM KNOWING THAT THEY'RE HELPING IN A TIME OF CRISIS, NOT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING AT AMOURED ONE BUT NATIONALLY I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BIGGEST WAY THAT WE ARE HELPING IS THAT WE ARE EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUT INTO A SITUATION THAT THEY DIDN'T PLAN FOR.

TEACHERS DON'T GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A TEACHER AND THEN LEARN HOW TO DO A LOCK DOWN PROCEDURE OR HAVING TO MAKE SURE THEY TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS THAT THEIR SCHOOL TO BE THE NEXT ONE ATTACKED.

OUR GOAL IS STATEWIDE BUT ALSO I THINK THE WAY THAT WE ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY IS BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE, THAT YOU CAN GO TO WORK.

AMOURED ONE HAS YOUR BACK.

SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE YOUR BACK WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT LIKE IT USED TO BE.

I FEEL LIKE I NOW KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO THAT I'M NOT JUST SITTING HERE WONDERING IF IT WILL EVER HAPPEN.

I CAN PROACTIVELY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> MY NAME IS JOANNA ROBERTSON, I OWN THE TREEHOUSE READING & ART CENTER.

WE ARE A CHILDREN'S BOOKSTORE AND DO A LOT OF CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, SUMMER CAMPS, BOOK CLUBS, A LOT OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO KEEP FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ENGAGED IN READING.

OUR MISSION HAS BEEN TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND HELP FAMILIES AND KIDS CONNECT WITH BOOKS AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER AND ACTIVITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY LEARNS IS THAT THE WE NEED THAT.

WHEN EVERYONE HAD TO BE AWAY FROM PEOPLE, WE REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS.

I ALWAYS WANT KIDS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THAT JOY AND THAT FUN OF READING.

I DO READING TUTORING, TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FOR SOME KIDS IT'S A STRUGGLE TO READ AND I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE THAT EASIER FOR THEM SO THEY CAN FIND THE JOY IN READING.

WE'VE HAD CHARACTERS COME AND VISIT.

WE HAVE KITTENS COMING TO VISIT.

WE'VE HAD SOME OF THE SPORTS TEAMS, THE PLAYERS HAVE COME AND READ WITH THE KIDS, TOO.

>> THEY'RE ALL IN PERSON AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT CAME ALONG.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE STILL WANTED TO KEEP GOING IN ANY WAY WE COULD.

I WAS DRIVING BOOKS AROUND ALL OVER TOWN AND TROP DROPPING THEM OFF ON PEOPLE'S PORCHES AND SHIPPING THEM OUT.

I COULD DO THE TEACHING ONLINE, WHICH CERTAINLY CAME WITH ITS CHALLENGING.

WE WERE ALSO MAKING BOOK BUNDLES SO THEY WOULD TELL US A THEME AND WE WOULD FIND DIFFERENT BOOKS AND ACTIVITIES ALONG THE THEME.

PLUS PARENTS NEEDED SUPPORT BECAUSE SUDDENLY THE KIDS WERE HOME AND YOU KNOW, NEEDED THAT HELP, NEEDED THINGS TO DO WITH THEM.

NEEDED THINGS TO READ AND NOBODY WAS READY FOR THAT BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO OUR SUMMER CAMPS LAST YEAR, REDUCED CAPACITY AND LOTS OF NEW WAYS OF GOING ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT WE COULD STILL HAVE KIDS TOGETHER AND LEARNING AND TALKING AND SO THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD THING.

FOR THE PARENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE STILL WORKING AND COULDN'T HELP WITH THAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WE WERE A PLACE FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO COME AND HAVE THE EXTRA SUPPORT.

>> IT HELPED PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WE WERE HERE AND OUR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> LIFE IS COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT ALL THE LITTLE KIDS AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

WE ARE JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, KIDS AND FAMILIES BACK IN THE STORE DOING THINGS TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME.

NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME AS IT WAS.

I THINK EVERYONE LEARNED SOME THINGS ALONG THE WAY.

HOW CAN WE STILL BEST HAVE THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S FIGURING THAT OUT AND KNOWING HOW TO GO FORWARD.

>> MY NAME IS RON KECK, OWNER OF SUB CAT MUSIC STUDIOS.

SUBCAT STUDIOS IS A FULL BLOWN PRODUCTION COMPANY AND WE HANDLE TRADITIONAL RECORDING PROJECTS.

WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE FILM INDUSTRY.

DOORS SHUT AND IT WAS LIKE A GHOST TOWN HERE IN SYRACUSE.

OBVIOUSLY WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

T.J. JAMES, STUDIO MANAGER.

I TOOK A CLASS AND WE WERE APPROVED LIKE POST AUDIO HOUSE.

NOW THAT'S OPENED UP THE DOOR FOR US WHEN WE GET SESSION LIKE THAT BEFORE BUT NOW WE ARE LISTED ON THE SAG UNION PAGE AS A POST AUDIO HOUSE.

IT REALLY WORKED TO OUR BENEFIT TO SOME DEGREE.

WE WEREN'T DOING THE WORK THAT WE WANTED TO BE DOING AND PROJECTS WERE LIPPINGERRING.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HONE IN ON HOW WE ACTUALLY RAN SUBCAT STUDIOS AND IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT WHAT POTENTIAL UPGRADES WE HAD TO DO TO THE PLACE.

WE KNEW ONCE THE DOORS OPENED, WE WOULD BE PUSHING FORWARD PRETTY QUICKLY.

IF IT WASN'T FOR PPP, WE HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF, GREAT TEAM.

SINCE WE HAVE REOPENED, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH HERE, THERE WAS GREAT MUSIC WRITTEN DURING THE SHOWRN AND NOW SHUTDOWN AND NOW MULTIPLE GREAT PROJECTS ARE COMING THROUGH.

MUSICIANS REALIZE THE SPECIALTY WE HAVE HERE.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS HOW TO DO VIRTUAL CONCERTS.

ONE IN PARTICULAR OR ONE AREA IS WITH THE SCHOOLS.

IT OPENED UP THE DOORS FOR US.

WE HAD A HANDFUL OF LIVE STREAM IN THE STUDIO.

IT HAS ALLOWED US TO LOOK AT THAT AS A POTENTIAL WAY OF GETTING ENTERTAINMENT OUT.

IF WE DO THE LIVE STREAMS, HOW DO WE DO IT AT THE BEST LEVEL.

WITH ALL THE TIME WE HAD ON OUR HANDS, SENLLY TECHNICALLY WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

IT IS WONDERFUL FOR THE SCHOOLS TO SEE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT EXIST HERE.

WE ALWAYS HAD A RELATIONSHIP TO SOME DEGREE.

IT'S JUST THAT COVID HAD COME ALONG AND REALLY JUST FORCED THESE SCHOOLS TO LOOK ELSEWHERE IN HOW TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS AND LUCKILY WE WERE HERE TO HELP THEM DO THAT.

>> IT WAS SOME TRYING TIMES TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT WE WEATHERED THE STORM.

AND I THINK WE ARE DOING OKAY NOW.

>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE McCALL.

I'M THE OWNER OF QUILTS BY COMMISSION.

A HOPE BUSINESS FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS TRANSITIONING TO MY FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR.

I STARTED 20 YEARS AGO LEARNING HOW TO SEW FROM MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND REALIZED I HAD A KNACK BUT WANTED TO CREATE A HOME BUSINESS SO I COULD STAY HOME WITH MY KIDS AND NOW IT'S TIME TO BUILD THE BUSINESS WITH A GREAT FOUNDATION THAT I'VE STARTED FROM HOME.

YEAR OF 2020 STARTED REALLY GREAT FOR ME.

I WAS 10 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

I HAD BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER MY OWN PERSONAL QUILT SHOW THAT WAS FEATURED AT BAILEY WICK MARKET AND CAFE AT JORDAN OUTBRIDGE AND THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF JANUARY, THREE WEEKS AND THEN EVERYTHING FELL.

I WAS CONTINUING TO DO CUSTOM COMMISSIONS BECAUSE I WAS A ONE-WOMAN SHOW AT HOME.

IN MARCH I STARTED A FACE MASK INITIATIVE LIKE MANY QUILTERS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND CREATED AN EMAIL WITH PATTERNS THAT KIND OF GOT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT AND WHAT THEY NEEDED UNDERSTAND JUST BE A GUIDING FORCE.

IN 2018, I STARTED QUILTING BEES, WHAT IT IS A ONE DAY FREE EVENT FOR QUILTERS OR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEW OR HAVE SOME SORT OF KNOWLEDGE OF SEWING AND QUILTING AND WE GET TOGETHER AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY PLACE.

WE HAVE BEEN USING THE AUBURN MASONIC LODGE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE MAKE A QUILT OR MORE FOR THE NEWEST HABITAT HOMEOWNERS.

I THINK THAT QUILTS BY COMMISSION HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TEACH SOMETHING NEW THAT HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN TAUGHT AND TO CREATE A PRESENCE OF JOY IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WITH THE THINGS I WILL BE DOING AT THE NEW SHOP, I AM EAGER TO CREATE A VIBRANT JOYFUL GIVING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SHOP AND STAY HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> MY NAME IS DUSTY.

PRESIDENT OF THE PENN YAN THEATER COMPANY.

WE ARE A NON-PROFIT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT BRING COMMUNITY THEATER TO PENN YAN AND WE ARE WORKING TO RESTORE THE 1910 VAUDEVILLE SAMPSON THEATER.

>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUNDRAISING PROJECT.

>> THE PROJECT IS $$8,000.

WE DEVELOPED FUNDRAISING MATERIALS TO LAUNCH A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WITH THE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT BEYOND THAT BUT THAT'S ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT.

WE THINK ONCE WE START DOING PHYSICAL WORK TO THE BUILDING, WE ARE HOPING THAT THE MORE MONEY WILL START TO COME IN.

SO WE ARE SETTING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR RAISING LARGER AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND THAT MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM NEW YORK STATE HAS REALLY BEEN HELPFUL TO TRY TO USE THAT AS LEVERAGE FOR OTHER LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE TO FUNDRAISE THAT TO ACCESS THAT MONEY.

BUT WE ARE ABLE TO USE THAT AS LEVERAGE FOR OTHER PLACES.

>> WHEN DID YOUR THEATER COMPANY START.

>> THE COMMUNITY THEATER GROUP ITSELF WAS FORMED IN 1978 AND WE HAVE BEEN 43 YEARS STRONG.

>> TALK ABOUT HOW COVID IMPACTED YOU GUYS AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WENT VIRTUAL.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT KEEPING YOUR PROGRAMS ALIVE DURING THAT TIME.

>> THE WEEKEND OF THE SHUTDOWN, MARCH 13, I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER FORGET THE DATE.

WE HAD A RADIO SHOW SCHEDULED FOR THAT WEEKEND, WHICH WE MADE THE DECISION TO CANCEL.

AND THEN WE STARTED HEARING ABOUT VIRTUAL PRODUCTIONS AND ALL THAT.

AND I HAD SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 TO 30 KIDS SIGN UP AND PUT ON TO TWO VIRTUAL PRODUCTIONS IN APRIL.

42 KIDS SIGNED UP FOR CAMP.

I CALLED IT BACK TO BASICS.

WE DID IT IN PERSON ALL SUMMER LONG FOR THREE WEEKS AND TAUGHT THEM THE BASICS OF LIGHT DESIGN, SOUND DESIGN AND REHEARSED FOR ANOTHER VIRTUAL PRODUCTION THAT THEY RECORDED IN PERSON WHEREAS THE FIRST ONE THEY DID IT ALL AT HOME.

THAT WAS THE REAL SHUTDOWN.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST IN THE FUTURE ONCE THE RENOVATIONS ARE DONE AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN SPACE?

WHAT IS THE FUTURE LOOKING LIKE FOR YOU?

>> I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST IMPACT IT'S GOING TO DO FOR INDIVIDUALS IS TO BE THAT CATALYST FOR HUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA IN GENERAL IS GOING TO BE, IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL FOR WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO FOR ALL THE OTHER BUSINESSES.

WE'VE GOT SO MANY BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE ON OUR SIDE SAYING HEY, YOU ARE GOING TO OPEN.

YOU ARE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS YOURSELF.

BUT MY RESTAURANT IS GOING TO BOOM.

MY HOTEL IS GOING TO BOOM.

MY SHOP ON MAIN STREET IS GOING TO BOOM.

EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS THEATER.

AND TO KNOW THAT I WAS PART OF THAT IS SOMETHING I'M VERY PROUD OF SOME DAY.

>> COLGATE UNIVERSITY, FOJO BEANS, FIND OUT HOW THIS COFFEE TRADED IN COFFEE BEANS.

>> I'M DAN FOUST, OWNER OF FOJO BEANS AND I OWN FOJO BEANS WITH MY PARTNER.

I'M THE FO AND HE'S THE JOMENT FOJO BEANS IS A SPECIALTY COFFEE ROASTING BUSINESS.

WE ARE KNOWN AROUND THE LGBTQ.

>> I ORDERED THE GRILLED CHEESE.

IT'S DELICIOUS.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR NINTH YEAR IN BUSINESS.

AND PART OF THE HAMILTON COMMUNITY.

>> WE'LL START WITH THE PANDEMIC.

AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT IMPACTED YOUR BUSINESS HERE.

>> ALL THE RESTAURANTS HAD TO CLOSE THEIR DINING ROOMS.

FINANCIALLY IT DEVASTATED US.

I MEAN OUR WORKING CAPITAL THAT WE DID HAVE WAS GONE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THE HARDEST DECISION WAS LAYING OFF OUR TEAM.

IT STILL MAKES ME EMOTIONAL.

WE HAD TO LAY THEM OFF BECAUSE WE COULDN'T OPEN THE DINING ROOM.

WE GOT THROUGH TO CHRISTMAS AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK.

AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE HAD TO LAY THEM OFF THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS EVER GOING TO END.

THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FIRST PPP AND THE SECOND PPP.

WE GOT THE LOANS.

WITHOUT THOSE FUNDS, I REALLY THINK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SUNK.

>> DURING THIS TIME YOU AND DAN SHIFTED TO MAKING MASKS.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THAT THERE WERE NO MASKS TO BE HAD.

I TOLD DAN THAT I KNOW HOW TO SEW, LET'S TURN OUR DINING ROOM INTO A SEWING CENTER.

THE WORD GOT OUT AND THE COMMUNITY STARTED DONATING FABRIC AND ELASTIC AND SEWING MACHINES AND WE STARTED MAKING MASKS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BY THE END OF IT, WE HAD MADE OVER 2,000 MASKS.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THIS.

THE CONSTANT FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EVEN BEYOND WERE TAKEN CARE OF.

DAN AND I HAD ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON GROWING THIS BUSINESS.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND PROUD TO SAY THAT WE DID JUST WIN THE BID TO SIGN A CONTRACT TO RUN BOTH COFFEE SHOPS AT HAMILTON COLLEGE IN CLINTON SO IT'S JUST THE NEXT STEP OF GROWING THE BUSINESS AND MAKING SURE THAT CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS GREAT COFFEE.

>> MY NAME IS ERIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND C.E.O.

OF UNITED WAY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

THE UNITED WAY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 100 YEARS.

AT THE HEART WHAT HAVE WE DO IS CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES UNITED WAY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY FOCUSES ON THREE SPECIFIC AREAS WITHIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

WE FOCUS SPECIFICALLY EARLY EDUCATION, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.

WE FUND PROGRAMS AND WE RUN INITIATIVES IN THOSE AREAS, SOME THAT YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE OR KNOW ABOUT ARE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS TO FOOD FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

PROGRAMS IN EARLY EDUCATION THAT SUPPORT KINDERGARTEN READINESS LIKE OUR READY FOR KINDERGARTEN INITIATIVE.

WE ALSO FOCUS ON MANY PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY RELATED TO HOUSING BECAUSE BEE KNOW THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC A LITTLE BIT.

IT HAS AN EFFECT ON EVERY BUSINESS.

HOW DID IT AFFECT YOU AT UNITED WAY.

>> WE SEE OURSELVES AS CONNECTOR ANDIN' VAITOR AND PROBLEM SOLVER.

IF THERE WAS EVER A BACKDROP FOR THE NEED FOR THOSE THREE THINGS, A NOVEL PANDEMIC IS ONE.

THE WORK THAT WE DO OVER THE PAST YEAR DURING REALLY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES IS A FOOD DISTRIBUTION SERIES THAT THE WE CALLED TAKE AND MAKE THAT WE DID IN PARTISANSHIP PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF UTICA ENABLED BY CARES ACT FUNDING AND WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE CASA IMPORTS AND KAREN'S PRODUCE TO PUT TOGETHER A HELLO FRESH OR BLUE APRON STYLE BOX OF FOOD THAT CAME WITH RECIPES AND AMAZING FRESH INGREDIENTS FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE TO MAKE FIVE MEALS.

WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE GIVING EVERYONE THE ACCESS THAT THEY DESERVE TO FRESH AND LOCAL HEALTHY FOODS.

>> DID YOU CONTINUE TO DO FUNDRAISING DURING THE METROPOLITAN AND IF SO, HOW WAS IT?

>> WE ESSENTIALLY ARE ON TRACK TO SURPASS EVEN THE YEAR BEFORE.

I THINK THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO BOTH HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO SOLVING THE BIGGEST NEEDS THAT WE IDENTIFY AND ALSO JUST IN TERMS OF OUR TEAM'S ABILITY TO TELL THE STORY OF WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THIS IS YOUR 100th YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT OF UNITED WAY.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK THAT YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE MADE ON THIS COMMUNITY AND HOW DO YOU HOPE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT GOING FORWARD?

>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE MADE IN 100 YEARS, WE LOOK AT THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE INVESTED; THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HELPED THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE FUNDED.

THERE IS LOTS LEFT TO DO AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS MILE STOAP BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FORWARD.

>> I'M BECKY FOX.

>> I'M BETH BLAKE AND WE'RE SISTERS AND OWN-- HE WAS THE WOODWORKER IN THE FAMILY.

WE REALIZED THERE WAS A LACK OF PLACES FOR ARTISTS TO BRING THEIR THINGS, TO SHOWCASE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

WE WERE ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING, BRINGING PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN CELEBRATE WITH OTHERS, BRING THINGS TO THEM, FIND UNIQUE GIFTS AND ARTISTS BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

WE WERE AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC OURSELVES.

I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB MARCD PEOPLE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THAT THAT EVERYTHING ALMOST COMPLETELY DIED.

SO WE DECIDED WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS IF THE PANDEMIC WASN'T HAPPENING.

AND OUR BIGGEST CONCEPT BEHIND THE BUSINESS IS THAT IT'S CELEBRATE EVERY DAY.

WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE FUN TO SET UP A PLACE WHERE I COULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WHILE WE WERE OPEN TORE STORE HOURS FOR PEOPLE TO BUY.

IF PEOPLE WANTED TO COME IN AND SEE HOW THINGS WERE MADE, THEY COULD SEE IT.

THINGS MADE WITH RECYCLED BLUEJEANS, T-SHIRT BAGS MADE FROM MY HUSBAND'S OLD T-SHIRTS.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY SENDING OUT MESSAGES FOR PEOPLE TO JOIN US SO WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THE WHOLE SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL AND HELP ANY TYPE OF ARTIST, WHETHER IT'S ACTUALLY A SMALL BUSINESS OR AN INDIVIDUAL.

>> THE PANDEMIC WAS GOING ON AND THERE IS SO MUCH DESPAIR AND UNKNOWING.

WE WANTED PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT THAT DOESN'T STOP YOU FROM FINDING JOY IN YOUR DAY.

SO LET'S CELEBRATE.

LET'S FIND A REASON.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR A HOLIDAY OR A BIRTHDAY.

YOU DON'T REALLY NEED A REASON BUT IF YOU DO, WE HAVE EXTRA HOLIDAYS FOR YOU TO FIND OUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY MORE AWARE OF THE LOCAL ARTISTS AND LOCAL TALENT AND BRING THEM INTO THE STORE AS WELL.

>> AND HELP THEM MARKET IT, HELP THEM BRAND THEMSELVES.

HELP THEM GET THEIR OWN ART OUT TO EVERYBODY SO THAT WE BECOME MORE SELF RELIANT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND NOT BE SCARED BECAUSE THAT STOPS THE CELEBRATION.

>> YOU ARE VALUABLE.

YOU HAVE WORTH.

WE THINK SO.

WE KNOW OTHER PEOPLE THINK SO.

CHIN UP.

FIND SOME JOY AND LET'S CELEBRATE HUMANITY AND CELEBRATE EACH OTHER.

I'M WORTH IT.

YOU ARE WORTH IT.

AND YEAH, IT'S A GOOD DAY.

>> WHAT DO MEMES AND A DRY CLEANER HAVE IN COMMON.

IT'S A LOT ACTUALLY.

FIND OUT HOW THIS BUSINESS NEVER ONCE LEFT THE ITHACA COMMUNITY HIGH AND DRY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> MIAMI NAME IS JIM KELLOGG, JUST LIKE IN THE CEREAL BUT NOT RELATED.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A VERY LONG HISTORY OF BEING HERE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT HERE AND THE HISTORY OF IT?

>> WELL, IT STARTED IN 1928 AND IT STAYED IN THE SAME FAMILY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SOLD ONCE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE FELLOW HAD A PROBLEM AND IT WENT BACK TO THE OWNERS WHO I BOUGHT IT FROM.

AND THAT'S 1997.

>> WHAT DID DO YOU ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?

>> DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WE CLEAN CLOTHES, SHOES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, COMFORTERS.

OUR PRIMARY BUSINESS IS CLEANING.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF HOW BUSINESS SHIFTED WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED?

>> WELL, IT WENT DOWN 75% AND AT THAT POINT, WE HAD TO LOOK AT SQUEEZING EVERY DOLLAR.

WE HAD TO ELIMINATE DISCOUNTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO DO WAS TO MAINTAIN OUR HOURS.

A LOT OF BUSINESSES CLOSED OR REDUCED THEIR HOURS OR SOMETHING.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE STABILITY FOR NOT JUST MYSELF BUT THE PUBLIC.

SO WE MAINTAINED OUR HOURS.

8-6 MONDAY-FRIDAY AND 9-1 ON SATURDAYS.

>> HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET BY?

>> WE CAN THANK THE GOVERNMENT.

WE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED THE PPP LOANS AND THAT'S WHAT HAS KEPT US ABLED TO CONTINUE.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU GUYS ARE STRUGGLING, YOU STILL DID SOME WORK IN THE ITHACA COMMUNITY.

CAN YOU TELL THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE WORK YOU DID WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO SANITIZE MASKS.

THEY WERE HAVING MASKS MADE AND DONATED TO THEM AND THEY WOULD DELIVER TO US LARGE NUMBERS OF MASKS.

WE WOULD SANITIZE THEM BY GIVING THEM LONG PERIODS IN OUR DRYERS AT HIGH TEMPERATURE AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE THEM OUT, PACKAGE THEM AND DISTRIBUTE THEM TO WHOEVER THEY SAID TO GIVE THEM TO.

WE DID THOUSANDS OF THEM.

>> YOU GUYS HAD A LITTLE FUN WITH YOUR SIGN OUTSIDE.

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

WE WERE HERE ONE DAY.

JUSTIN MADE A JOKE, JUST TO LIFT PEOPLE'S SPIRITS.

HE SAID WE OUGHT TO PUT ON THE SIGN OUT FRONT, SMALL BUSINESS NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

WE PUT IT ON THERE.

WE GOT A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE FROM IT.

PEOPLE JUST ENEXPWROID IT.

SO-- ENJOYED IT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING NEW COVID MEMES UP ONCE A WEEK ON OUR SIGN OUT FRONT AND WE GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ON IT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE HERE.

THEY ARE TREMENDOUS.

THEY HAVE WORKED NOW FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS WITHOUT A DAY OFF OTHER THAN NORMAL HOLIDAYS AND THEY HAVEN'T COMPLAINED.

THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN A SICK DAY AND THEY'VE CARRIED THIS THING.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS, WHAT DO ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO A REGULAR BUSINESS.

GETTING BACK TO A REGULAR ROUTINE.

>> THE HORSE IS A PREY ANIMAL.

HUMANS ARE PREDATORS.

THIS ABILITY TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A HORSE AND A HUMAN IS VERY UNIQUE IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

I'M ANDREA COLELLA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER AND INSTRUCTORS FROM THE GROUND UP.

WE PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED SERVICES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES, CHALLENGES AND AGES.

HORSES ARE VERY INTUITIVE, ACCEPTING OF CREATURES WHO ARE NOT A THREAT.

VERY AWARE OF WHAT IS AROUND THEM.

THEY LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

THE THINGS THAT HORSE DOZEN NATURALLY ARE SOMEWHAT HARD FOR PEOPLE.

>> I COME HERE THREE DAYS A WEEK AND I HAVE BEEN COMING SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER.

I FEEL IT'S HELPING ME BY GIVING SOMETHING THAT I'M GOOD AT AND THAT I LOVE TO DO.

I LIKE ALL THE HORSES AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED ME LIKE SINCE I WAS VERY NERVOUS FROM THE FIRST TIME THAT I RODE.

IT'S LIKE JUST ME AND IT'S NOT MY FAMILY AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.

AND IT'S LIKE A HAPPY PLACE FOR ME.

>> WE WERE SHUT DOWN IN MARCH.

WE COULDN'T HAVE ANY LESSONS.

WE DIDN'T REALLY WORK THE HORSES TOO MUCH EVEN THOUGH WE COULD HAVE IN THE INDOOR ARENA.

MAINLY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF STAFF AND THERE WAS ALL THIS WORK THAT HAD TO BE DONE.

WE GOT THE MANDATE FROM NEW YORK STATE.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT, I KNEW THAT WOULDN'T WORK FOR US BECAUSE I KNEW WE COULDN'T RIDE OUTSIDE AND I KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE THE SUPPORT STAFF.

I WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH THE DEAN OF LIFE SCIENCES AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND WE REWROTE THE PLAN FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING.

THAT PLAN APPLIED TO ALL OF THE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTERS IN NEW YORK.

WE PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND IT WAS PASSED.

NOW WE ARE SEEING AND HEARING MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THE PANDEMIC HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.

WE WERE SEEING IT EVEN BEFORE THAT.

WE BELIEVE HERE THAT THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AREA FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN.

THERE IS LESSON PLANS, THERE IS NOTES THAT ARE TAKEN.

BUT IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE IS A THOUSAND POUND ANIMAL INVOLVED AS WELL.

WE SEE SO MUCH PROGRESS IN WHAT I THINK IS A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, STARTING THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HORSE AND THE HUMAN.

WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP TRANSLATES INTO THEIR HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL.

>> HI, MY NAME IS KELLY DeSTEFANO AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF LASTING IMPRESSION TOURS INCORPORATED.

LASTING IMPRESSION TOURS, I SET UP GROUP TRAVEL, I CUSTOMIZE EACH AND EVERY ITINERARY THAT WE DO FOR STUDENT GROUPS, CLASS TRIPS, EDUCATIONAL TOURS, SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS, GIRL SCOUT TROOPS, ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO GO, I CAN CUSTOMIZE AN ITINERARY FOR THEM.

2020 WAS LOOKING TO BE MY BEST YEAR YET.

I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR FOUR YEARS ON MY OWN BUT I HAVE BEEN SETTING UP GROUP TRAVEL FOR 19 YEARS TOTAL.

MARCH 20-21 WAS GOING TO BE MY FIRST TRIP OF A BUSY SPRING SEASON WITH EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND SENIOR CLASS TRIPS.

THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO GO TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND ON MARCH 17, THEY IT CANCEL THEIR TRIP.

AND FROM EVERY PHONE CALL AFTER THAT, IT WAS A CANCELLATION.

I DID ONE THING THAT I FEEL WAS VERY POSITIVE IS THAT I DID GIVE 100% REFUNDS TO ALL OF MY GROUPS BECAUSE I JUST FELT THAT ONCE THIS IS OVER, THEY WILL COME BACK TO ME AND TRAVEL AGAIN.

I'M STARTING TO SEE THUNKS NOW SLIGHTLY MOVE FORWARD AND OPENING UP WITH ALL THE RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED.

MY SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS AND ADULT TOURS ARE THE FIRST TO COME BACK, OF COURSE.

THEY'RE STAYING A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME AND THEY'RE STARTING TO PLAN FOR THE FALL AND WINTER.

THE SCHOOL TRIPS WILL NOT PROBABLY COME BACK UNTIL THE SPRING OF 2022, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THE EXPERIENCE THAT THESE KIDS WILL HAVE LEARNING OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, I JUST THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BRING TRAVEL TO SCHOOL.

I FEEL THAT WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH VENDORS AND THAT I'VE BUILT WITH PEOPLE AND WITH CUSTOMERS JUST TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF A PEACE OF MINE AND ALSO BRINGING SO MUCH BACK INTO THE ECONOMY, THAT OF THING IMPRESSIONS IS MAKING AN IMPACT.

>> MY NAPE IS MICHAEL JOHN HEAGERTY AND I'M THE CO-OWNER AND FOUNDER OF WILDFLOWERS ARMORY.

WILDFLOWERS IS A MULTI-VENDOR MARKETPLACE FULL OF ALL HANDMADE ARTISANS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE.

WE CELEBRATE THE ANTI-ORDINARY AND PROMOTE CREATIVE WELCOMING EXPERIENCES FOR SHOPPERS.

WILDFLOWERS STARTED AS A SERIES OF POPUP SHOPS THAT WOULD TEMPORARILY MOVE INTO VACANT STORE FRONTS IN DOWNTOWN.

AND IT DID WELL ENOUGH TO GARNER SOME ATTENTION, SO MORE VENDORS JOINED US AND WE SUDDENLY HAD A COLLECTIVE APPROACH.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU GUYS OPENED THE SPACE AT THE END OF 2019 AND THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER THE PANDEMIC HIT.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT IMPACTED YOUR?

BUSINESS.

>> THE FUTURE OF WILDFLOWERS WAS PRETTY UNKNOWN WHEN THE PANDEMIC CAME THROUGH BECAUSE WE HAD MOVED IN JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN 2019, AND WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE HEADED.

SO WE BANDED TOGETHER, FIGURED OUT A WAY TO SUSTAIN BUSINESS WHEN WE WERE SHUT DOWN BY SHIFTING TO ONLINE SALES.

WHEN WE CAME BACK, WE WERE VERY ADAMANT ABOUT REDESIGNING THE SHOP SAFELY.

THE PANDEMIC BECAME IRONICALLY, THE PANDEMIC OF OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE HAD A PLAN IN PLACE TO EXPAND ALREADY.

IT ALLOWED US TO FOCUS ON THAT AND GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BIRTH THE McCARTHY AMERICA MERCANTILE.

2.

>> I AM THE OWNER AND ILLUSTRATOR, THE McCARTHY MERCANTILE IS DOWNSTAIRS FROM WILDFLOWERS, THE MULTI-VENDOR BASE.

IT HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF ARTIST AND MAKERS AND CREATE RS TOGETHER AND I THINK THAT CAN ONLY SPREAD TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S JUST COOL JUST TO SEE THAT THERE IS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIKE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING THAT YOU LIKE SUSTAINABLY.

I THINK THE CAMARADERIE AMONGST THE WILDFLOWERS FAMILY IS REALLY WHAT SUSTAINED US GRN, MY NAME IS ROB OTTERSTATTER.

MY WIFE AND I ARE THE OWNERS OF OCTANE SOCIAL HOUSE, AMALGAM OF A COFFEE HOUSE AND RESTAURANT, LIBRARY BOOKSTORE AND RECORD LOUNGE AS WELL AS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.

WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON ALL THE TIME.

>> I LIKE KNOWING WHAT GOES INTO OUR GOODS VERSUS BUYING STUFF AND THE INGREDIENTS LISTED ARE A PARAGRAPH LONG.

>> THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US EARLY ON.

THE CONCEPT OF FARM-TO-TABLE.

ULTIMATELY WE WANTED A PLACE THAT WE WOULD THINK WOULD BE COOL TO HANG OUT IN.

A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY FELT WELCOME.

SO WE BEGAN OUR BUILDOUT HERE JANUARY 4 OF 2020 WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF OPENING UP ON THE 26th OF MARCH IN 2020.

ON THE 12th OF MARCH OR THEREABOUTS, THE WORLD CHANGED AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET OPEN UNTIL 24th OF AUGUST.

AND THEN EVEN WITH THAT, IT WAS UNDER A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

IT WAS UNDER 50% OCCUPANCY BASED ON REGULATIONS.

SO WHEN WE FIRST OPENED, IT WAS NOT THE OPENING THAT THE WE HAD PLANNED.

OUR GRAND OPENING WAS ANYTHING BUT GRAND.

WE WOUND UP REDUCING OUR HOURS.

WE VERY QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T JUST EXCITED ABOUT IT AS WE WERE HIVE AND THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT AND NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THAT BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THAN WE EXPECTED.

PROVIDING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR PANDEMIC SHELL EVEN NOW THAT ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED, PEOPLE ARE STILL TELLING US, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE COMING IN OR WE DON'T GO OUT VERY MUCH.

SO WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THAT.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

>> FOR SURE.

TRYING TO JUST SURVIVE.

>> WE DID A LOT OF ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL TO GET THROUGH.

WE LITERALLY PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE TO MAKE OUR DREAM A REALITY AND YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR VISION BEYOND AUBURN INTO OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN CREATING A SOCIAL HOUSE AND HELPING REBUILD COMMUNITY.

>> MY NAME IS ERIC, I'M THE OWNER OPERATOR OF SCRATCH BAKEHOUSE, WHICH CONSISTS OF A PRODUCTION BAKERY AND RETAIL ON BRIGHTON AVE AND THIS CAFE.

FROM LATE AT NIGHT UNTIL VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, WE ARE MAKING DOUGH, WE ARE LETTING THE DOUGH RISE, WE ARE FORMING THE DOUGH.

AND THEN WE ARE BREAKING IT OR BAKING IT.

WE ARE AN 18-HOUR A DAY OPERATION.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAD SOME LARGE IMPACTS ON YOUR BUSINESS.

WANT TO TALK WITH THAT?

>> SURE.

ACTUALLY IN THE BEGINNING, IT HELPED OUR BUSINESS QUITE A BIT.

PEOPLE GRAVITATED TO BUYING OUR BREAD AS A VERY IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENT IN THE FAMILY DIET.

AND THROUGH THAT, WE GAINED A LOT OF NEW CUSTOMERS.

WE DID END UP SPENDING A LOT MORE MONEY IN HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE SANITATION THAT WE DID, CLEANING THE PLACE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM EVERY DAY.

CLEANING THE DOORS AND THE COUNTERS, YOU KNOW, EVERY HOUR.

FOR US AND A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESSES THAT JUST STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY RELIEF BECAUSE MOST OF THE RELIEF REQUIRED YOU TO HAVE BEEN OPEN THE YEAR BEFORE TO SHOW A DECREASE IN BUSINESS OR INCREASE IN COST.

AS OUR BUSINESS GREW NATURALLY, WE NEEDED TO HIRE PEOPLE AND WE COULDN'T FIND PEOPLE.

WE LITERALLY COULDN'T FIND PEOPLE; FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST HIRED A NEW BAKER.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A BAKER FOR SIX MONTHS.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF BAKERS IN THE WORLD ANYMORE AND THERE DEFINITELY ARE NOT A LOT OF SOUR DOUGH BAKERS SO ALL THE BAKE RIS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WILL REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE THAT THE RESTAURANTS AND BAKERIES, THAT THEY WERE MAKING JUST TO STILL BE HERE TODAY FOR THE LOVE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND WHAT THEY DO I HOPE THE PEOPLE OF SYRACUSE DON'T STOP SUPPORTING ALL THESE PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

OUR GOAL HERE IS TO BE A REALLY GOOD COFFEE HOUSE, TO SELL GREAT PASTRIES.

WE REALLY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO BE A BEACON IN THE COMMUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

>> MY NAME IS KATHLEEN RATHBUN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF SYRACUSE CITY BALLET, THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL BALLET IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK AREA.

WE ARE OFFER CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN WORKS.

WHEN A CHILD IS EXPOSED TO BALLET, IT OPENS THEIR MINDS TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND A WHOLE NEW WAY OF THINKING.

>> THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT FOR NOT ONLY SYRACUSE CITY BALLET BUT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE REGION, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT SYRACUSE CITY BALLET HAVE FACED OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS HAS BEEN NOT HAVING TICKET REVENUE.

OUR LAST MAJOR PERFORMANCE WAS THE NUTCRACKER IN DECEMBER OF 2019.

SO DURING THAT TIME, WE HAVE RELIED ON PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT.

WE HAVE RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS IN THE AREA AND WE CANNOT THANK PEOPLE ENOUGH FOR STICKING WITH US.

>> SYRACUSE CITY BALLET IS SO, SO PROUD OF OUR 2020 DIGITAL SEASON.

WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE OVER 50 VIDEOS THAT WERE SEEN OVER 53,000 TIMES ONLINE.

THEY WERE REALLY DESIGNED TO GIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WERE LEARNING AT HOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL EXPERIENCE THE ART.

>> 6, JUMP... >> WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE RETURNING TO SYRACUSE'S INNER HARBOR.

OUR FIRST SHOW OF 2021 WILL BE OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES.

IT WILL BE FREE AND JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME BACK TOGETHER TO SEE CLASSICAL BALLET.

OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON BRINGING OUR DANCERS BACK.

BRINGING OUR STAFF BACK AND RETURNING TO THE STAGE.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO BRING THE ARTS TO WHEREVER YOU ARE.

SYRACUSE CITY BALLET HAS BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS.

WE EXPECT TO BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS.

>> WE CALL TONIGHT'S PROGRAM AN INSPIRING STORY ABOUT HABIBA BORU ETHIOPIAN KITCHEN, SEE HOW RESTAURANT OWNER HABIBA BORU ISN'T JUST SERVING UP TASTY DISHES HERE.

HE IS ALSO BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE CULTURE, FAMILY AND LOVE.

>> MY NAME IS HABIBA BORU, THE OWNER OF HABIBA BORU ETHIOPIAN KITCHEN LOCATED IN SYRACUSE NEW YORK.

WE BASICALLY SERVE TRADITIONAL ETHIOPIAN FOOD, SOMING THAT I HAVE BEEN EATING WHILE I WAS GROWING UP AND SOMETHING THAT MY MOTHER MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH, SO I'M INTRODUCING IT TO MY FELLOW COMMUNITY.

I CAME TO SYRACUSE AS A REFUGEE AT THE AGE OF 14.

I CAME FROM ONE OF THE LARGEST REFUGEE CAMPS IN KENYA.

THERE WAS A LOT OF ETHNIC CLEANSING GOING ON AND RUNNING AWAY ON FOOT FOR DAYS, WE WERE DISCOVERED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS BASICALLY KIND OF PICKED US UP AND TOOK US TO THE REFUGEE CAMP.

MY MOTHER IS BEHIND ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW.

WHEN WE WERE LIVING IN THE REFUGEE CAMP, MY MOTHER INSPIRED ME SO MUCH AS A YOUNG GIRL THERE.

WAS NOT MUCH TO EAT IN THE CAMP.

BUT MY MOM WAS MAKING SOME OF THE DELICIOUS KNEELS WITH WHAT EVER SHE WAS ABLE TO GET, WHETHER MEAT OR VEGGIES AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW SHE WAS BASICALLY KEEPING THE ROOF OVER OUR HEAD AND KEEPING CLOTHES ON OUR BACK.

TODAY I'M MAKING THE SAME TYPE OF FOOD MY MOM MADE FOR US AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A LITTLE GIRL AND THAT'S HOW I'M RAISING MY CHILDREN.

YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WITH HOW MUCH THEY'RE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING IN THE KITCHEN AND WANTING TO COOK.

MY 11-YEAR-OLD IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT COOKING AND THANKING THINGS THAT I MAKE.

SHE ALWAYS SAYS MOM, I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU AND WHEN YOU GET OLDER, MAYBE I CAN RUN YOUR RESTAURANT.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC IT IS SO HARD BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING ALL THIS FOOD BUT IT'S A GOT FOOD THAT IS GOING TO WASTE.

SO WE LOOK FOR SOME MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDED IT AND WE GO AND DROP IT OFF.

THEY'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT SOMEBODY REMEMBERED THEM IN A TIME OF NEED.

>> WE LOST SO MUCH REVENUE BUT IT MAKES ME HAPPY THAT I DIDN'T WASTE THE FOOD AND IT WAS SOMEBODY THAT ACTUALLY ATE AND SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO BE HUNGRY.

>> I THOUGHT OF CLOSING MY DOORS AND SAYING HEY, YOU HAVE TRIED SO MUCH BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I STARTED THINKING, I DIDN'T COME FROM THE SAND TO SNOW TO JUST WALK AWAY FROM ALL THIS AND TO LET MY MOTHER AND MY LEGACY JUST GO AWAY.

IF I DID NOT HAVE HOPE AND HELD ON TO THE FAITH, I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD BE HERE TODAY.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY FOR STANDING BY ME WHEN I FIRST START THIS JOURNEY AND ALSO WHILE I'M STILL TRAVELING THROUGH THIS JOURNEY.

FOOD UNITES STRANGERS, FOOD BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WHAT'S BETTER THAN THAT?

LIKE BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN YOU AND THE PERSON.

YOU ARE BREAKING THE BREAD TOGETHER.

I FEEL LIKE THAT IS ONE BIG IMPACT.

WHAT AN AMAZING STORY • THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING, HABIBA!

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES FEATURED HERE TONIGHT.

AS WE CLOSE TONIGHT'S PROGRAMMING, HERE IS A SNEAK PEAK INTO NEXT MONTH'S INSTALLMENT OF WCNY'S IMPACT GIVEBACK PROGRAM.

>> WE HAVE EVENTS LINED UP.

THEN COVID HIT.

>> I THIS I ONE THING THAT THE PANDEMIC DID WAS BRING US TOGETHER.

IMMEDIATELY THE MUSICIANS WENT INTO ACTION, THE RECORDING PERFORMANCES AND INTERVIEWS FROM THEIR HOMES AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED THROUGH MUSIC.

THAT'S A GOOD FEELING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR COMMUNITY DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT US.

>> TO FIND OUT MORE ON THE BUSINESSES WE FEATURED TONIGHT PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE: WCNY.ORG/IMPACTPROGRAM.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER.

I'M ERIKA LIBERATI, AND THIS HAS BEEN WCNY'S IMPACT GIVEBACK PROGRAM.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!