#SmallBizBigLoveATL: Great Ways to Give Back & More

An organizer at Lady Bird helps pack ATL Family Meal

Give Back & More

The Great Roswell Wedding Rescue

Why wait for the perfect moment, take this moment and make it perfect!

Heartbroken over the many canceled weddings and long-awaited nuptials put on hold, Gillian Marto and Deb Hull of Events of a Lifetime Productions took it upon themselves to offer a new Why Wait Wedding Package.

A charming, intimate micro-wedding package that includes a choice between a beautifully decorated outdoor or indoor ceremony at Roswell’s historic Naylor Hall, which has been thoroughly treated to combat any germs or viruses, officiant, flowers, live music, materials for up to 10 guests, and a champagne toast and wedding cake or cupcakes packaged and served to maximize safety.

Options also include the opportunity to have a professional photographer and videographer capture the day. Add ons include the wedding Llamas, pedicab or horse and carriage arrival. The women have also worked with local Roswell eateries Table & Main and Osteria Mattone to offer the option of packages for brunch, lunch or cocktails after the ceremony.

If you would like more information, or to reserve your time on the Why Wait Wedding Calendar, call 770.595.9115. You can also see more information online here.

Fun for the Kiddos

Montessori Kids Academy—Check out Montessori mornings. Affordable and flexible. Convenient for parents who need to run errands or visit the gym.

Online Inspiration

National Center for Civil and Human Rights—The Power to Inspire Tribute Awards have gone virtual! Celebrate honorees, Mari Copeny, Katie Fahey, and Dr. Denis Mukwege, through Zoom interviews over the next few weeks. Click here to register to join.

Paper Products & Photography

Paces Papers—The premier fine and custom stationery boutique in Atlanta and beyond. Featuring the best in stationery design from around the world including Arzberger, Karen Adams, Cavallini, Felix Doolittle, G. Lalo and Rifle Paper Co. A Buckhead boutique for more than 45 years. In house designers for custom invitations, personalized stationery, and more. Temporary store hours M-F, 10a-12p and by appointment. Curbside pick up available.

Pitter Productions Photography—2020 Over 40 & Fabulous! Top 40 member, Pitter Goughnour is available to photograph clients. Headshots, graduation photos, and more! Pitter wears a mask and can use her zoom lens for shoots if social distancing is requested.

Discover More Fitness, Beauty, and Home & Garden Local Businesses You Can Support by Clicking Here!

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Serving Hospitality to Servers In Need

The service industry was one of those hit hardest by the COVID-19 outbreak, with tens of thousands of restaurant workers without work almost overnight. ATLFAMILYMEAL is a non-profit initiative dedicated to providing meals to servers and their families who are in need. With the help of chefs and hospitality groups such as Gina and Linton Hopkins, Electric Hospitality, King of Pops, Fox Bros., and Jai Ho, ATLFAMILYMEAL has been able to provide 15,000 meals to servers and their families from over 200 restaurants.

Other business partners include Wild Heaven Brewery, which has created two new brews, ‘All Together’ and ‘Straya’ (brewed in partnership with former Braves pitcher, Peter Moylan) with part of the proceeds going towards ATLFAMILYMEAL’s efforts, and Lyft, who is donating ride credits through its LyftUp program to help make deliveries.

You can donate to the initiative’s cause or, if you own a hospitality business and would like to get assistance for employees, sign up.

More Places Giving Back

Children’s Museum of Atlanta—Helping underserved communities gain access to ‘the power of play’ and fun things to do during shelter-in-place, the Children’s Museum of Atlanta has been delivering between 200-300 Family Activity Kits to low-income families every Friday. The kits provide ideas and materials for family activities that encourage educational learning through play.

Twice as Nice Uniforms—Atlanta-based uniform manufacturer Twice as Nice Uniforms has converted their factory to making masks, gowns and other essential items. They have also started a GoFundMe to raise money to donate masks to different organizations such as police, food banks, etc.

Dating

Single Atlanta Matchmakers—What’s changed about dating in the last month? EVERYTHING! The good news is Single Atlanta Matchmakers has the solution to dating safely and confidently. 1000’s of professional, quality singles are in their database and ready to meet. Matchmakers will take care of prescreening matches and setting up virtual dates. All you have to do is get ready for the call. It’s that simple. Safe. Fun. Easy.

Media

Tamara Brands—The TSB Agency is here to serve all of your media and television needs. From casting and producing to securing placement for actors & actresses the Tamra Simmons Brand Agency is here to serve all of your media and television needs.

Discover More Fitness, Beauty, and Home & Garden Local Businesses You Can Support by Clicking Here!

Race in Place with the Your Space Virtual Race!

Bert’s Big Adventure is throwing an at-home race to benefit their charity, which provides an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World to children with chronic and terminal illnesses with their families.

The Your Space Adventure Race will be held Saturday, May 2nd and challenges you to walk, run, or ride a distance in your own space. Dress up as a superhero and run in their honor, whether it’s a healthcare worker, essential worker, or anyone else who is doing their part to help get us through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registration is $15, with $5 per additional person. All proceeds will go to Bert’s Big Adventure. Help spread the word on social using the tags #BertsBigAdventure and #YourSpaceRace! Sign up by clicking here.

Other Nonprofits Making A Difference

HomeAid Atlanta—The 2020 Essentials Drive has moved online! This annual drive helps collect much needed diapers and baby wipes to distribute to shelters for homeless mothers, infants, and toddlers. In the wake of COVID-19, this year’s drive has been expanded to include other urgent items to help in the pandemic. All items will be shipped and delivered via Amazon Smile.

National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)—NIVA was created in response to the COVID-19 shutdown to help independent venues and promoters survive. Atlanta establishments such as Center Stage, The Masquerade, and Smith’s Olde Bar have joined the ranks to help create a network of support and resources for other small and medium venues. Membership is free to venues.

Food Fight GA—Georgia Organics and the Jamestown Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization backed by the company behind Ponce City Market, has created a new initiative to support food industry workers and Georgia farmers. By buying produce from local farms and sending it to food workers in need, they are able to help sustain two of the states most vulnerable populations in the COVID-19 pandemic. Food Fight GA is still in it’s pilot phase, those interested in donating can click here. Restaurants interested in joining the program can learn more here.

Out-of-the-box Quarantine Help & Fun

Let Lulu Do It—A concierge task service that helps you get things done. Let Lulu do it!

Atlanta Audubon—There’s been an increased interest in birdwatching with the shelter-in-place orders. In response, Atlanta Audubon is offering a number of online bird events including casual discussions, webinars and more. For a full list of their resources, click here.

Discover More Fitness, Beauty, and Home & Garden Local Businesses You Can Support by Clicking Here!

Feed Atlantans In-Need with an Interactive “Bear Hunt”

Show your kids how they can help other children in need during quarantine by joining Children Helping Children’s Be Well Bear Hunt. This charity bear hunt is collecting wishes and virtual bear hugs and turning them into care packages distributed around the community.

Here is how your family can join:

Have your kids pick out their favorite stuffed bears and take a photo of them giving them BIG hugs.
Each child can create and color a ‘well wish’, a sweet message to send to a kid who needs some extra love right now.
Post photos of their hugs and wishes to social media, tagging Children Helping Children ((Facebook -@chc.atl and Instagram – chcatlantaorg) with these hashtags: #childrenhelpingchildren, #thebewellbearhunt, #lovecannotbequarantined, #littlehandsbiglove
Watch CHC’s social media as they use your drawing on the front of a “Be Well Bear” and fill the bear pack with food for a child most affected by COVID-19.

Children Helping Children is a locally owned nonprofit dedicated to teaching children to help others and be a positive change in the world. To catch up with Children Helping Children and see all the Be Well Bears check out their Facebook page here.

Pets

Bark Fifth Avenue—Visit their website and social media platforms for tips, tricks, and ways to stay fabulous (even while Social Distancing) with your pet!

CutiePaws Pet Sitting—As a Best Dog Walker for Atlanta Best Media’s My Buckhead community, they are offering a 10% discount on the first booking for new clients. In addition, they are also offering a 10% discount to all first responders and essential workers.

Hollywood Feed—Curbside pickup is available at all Hollywood Feed locations, serving your pets the best in pet care.

Love

Single Atlanta Matchmakers—”Love is not cancelled.” Available for complimentary virtual coaching/chat sessions to listen, encourage and share our optimism. Yes, you can still date! Maintaining social distance doesn’t mean loneliness. If there’s ever been a time to get creative with ideas for first (or second, third, or fourth) dates, it’s now.

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Finances

Financial Innovations LLC—Financial Innovations is offering a series of zoom webinars covering important wealth-related topics – Identity Theft, Waldo Waldman, Author of Never Fly Solo and Retired Air Force Motivational Speaker, Social Security, Author of What Game are You Playing – Robin Moriarty, and more. If you wish to partake in our webinars and/or receive our emails, please reach out to Laura at laura@financialinnovations.biz.

Mediation

Clarity Mediation—Experiencing extra stress during the pandemic due to divorce or separation? Clarity Mediation can help. Virtual sessions for group or individual conflict resolution are available from the comfort of your home. To explore if mediation is right for you, call (404) 585-1206 or visit the scheduling page.

Discover More Fitness, Beauty, and Home & Garden Local Businesses You Can Support by Clicking Here!

Marketing Your Business During COVID-19

How do you navigate marketing your business during a crisis? This is the question many business owners face as they try to balance the health of their customers and employees with the health of their business. Tran Bui Smith, host of On Location with Tran, has these tips for marketing your business during these strange times:

Be Current—With things constantly changing, make sure you stay current. Update the information on your website and social media pages. Let people know if you are open or closed, update your hours and tell them what you have available.

Tell Your Story—Right now you have more eyes on your page. New people are finding you and current followers have more time for engagement. Take advantage of the bigger audience by telling your story. Who you are, what you do, why you do it. Photos are great, but videos are more powerful.

Provide Relevant Information—Share information that makes sense for your business and your brand. Be the expert in your field. It wouldn’t make sense for a car wash company to be posting about artwork, but providing tips on car cleaning and maintenance would help with your credibility.

For Kids & Teens

British Academy of Performing Arts— BAPA Online Academy offers live and on-demand lessons in dance and theater for ages 2 and up.

Tiny Towne—Providing DDS approved Remote Driver’s Education for student drivers at reduced cost.

Bert’s Big Adventure—Join Bert’s Big Adventure for a “virtual hug”! Every weekday morning at 10 a.m., Bert’s Big Adventure will enlist a “Storytime Star” to read a short book on Facebook.

Car Care

Crabapple Automotive—No contact service and pick up within a 5-mile radius.

General Business Help

Cobb Chamber of Commerce—Free “How To” webinar series for business owners, managers, and executives on navigating the complexities of a pandemic business climate from local experts and officials. Located under business resources, webinars.