Community comes together for "Curbside Christmas" event
COLOMA, Mich.--The pandemic is still sparking uncertainty for small business owners across the state of Michigan.
“It’s been extremely difficult. I don’t think unless you’re directly in the industry or affected by it directly that you can really grasp how overwhelming and hard this whole thing has been,” Owner of Soulards Taylor Prestige said.
The Coloma community came together for a “Curbside Christmas” to spread some holiday cheer and help downtown shops and restaurants recover lost revenue from the recent shutdowns.
“My husband and I, we were feeling a little I guess desperate and sad for all of our fellow business owners,” Prestige said. “We decided to take matters into our own hands. The restaurant industry is defiantly hurting right now and the help is extremely hard to come by.
“If we can do something like this to help them I mean it’s the only thing that may keep them alive. All these businesses, this is their hay day! Christmas parties, catering, they can’t do any of that,” Coloma Mayor Marsha Hammond said.
The streets of downtown Coloma were filled with cars for the first time in months.
Community members lined up to order carry out from their favorite restaurants in socially distant fashion without leaving their vehicles. Santa, his elves, and even the Grinch, stationed along the route to brighten peoples’ spirits and hand out goodies.
“You see this happening at other places and everything, but really and truly to come support this little town just it’s wonderful. It’s just outstanding I just, there are no words,” Hammond said.
Organizers said they hope this event can inspire other cities and local business owners to step up and do the same.
“If you’re in the restaurant industry, this year you’ve had to be creative and defiantly have determination. I hope that this spreads and other restaurants can get this help, immediately for us I hope it gives our downtown a little boost especially going into the slow holidays season,” Prestige said.