During this time of social distancing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, restaurant owner Jeremy Seefeldt and a selection of other businesses in the region see an opportunity to pull everyone closer together.
The owner of Boss’ Pizza & Chicken, which has two locations in Sioux Falls, is offering 20 percent off every pizza to health care workers in the region.
“The health care workers and first responders are the ones who need the most support from everyone right now,” Seefeldt said. “I think it’s important that they get a chance to feel the support of the community. Whatever we can do in a small way, we’re going to try to do.”
To that end, his restaurants also are offering an opportunity to get 40 percent off an order to those who want to pass along gratitude to health care workers, first responders, essential workers and the less fortunate.
Via pizza, chicken and everything else on Boss’ menu, they will have the chance to assure others that people are thinking about them.
It started with Boss’ manager Jason Johnson delivering a substantial care package to the Good Samaritan Society — Prairie Creek residents in Sioux Falls as a gesture of appreciation for the care Johnson’s grandmother was receiving. Then it took off from there.
‘We can get through this’
“My family and I live in town, and we know a lot of people who work at the hospitals or work in the grocery stores,” Seefeldt said. “We’ve had people step up and do those kinds of things for other people. The idea is to encourage people to be thinking that if we support each other and work together, we can get through this.”
At Jersey Mike’s in Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, owner A.J. Hofer wanted to make sure Sanford Health caregivers and providers from all over feel a little love when they’re able to take a break from their duties. By showing their badge, they can receive a free sub.
It’s a business that worked to establish a community presence before the onset of the coronavirus. In the days since then, it has built on that presence.
“We wanted to do something,” Hofer said. “You feel a little helpless sometimes. At Jersey Mike’s, as a whole, we decided it was a good idea to use our platform to provide some token of appreciation. It’s just a regular sub, and it’s probably not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, but for those workers on the frontlines battling this thing for us, we want them to know we appreciate them.”
Seefeldt and Hofer are not alone. Several local businesses are passing along gratitude with similar discounts and offers.
Perks for caregivers
- Beans Coffee Bar locations in Fargo are offering free cups of coffee and Just Java to all Sanford Health employees.
- BP and Amoco gas stations are giving health care workers 50 cents off per gallon of gas for the month of April.
- Starbucks Coffee is offering free tall hot or iced brewed coffee to those on the front lines responding to COVID-19 until May 3.
- Dunn Brothers Coffee of Bemidji, Minnesota, is offering a 50% discount on beverages and a 20% discount on food from now through April 30.
- Culver’s of Bemidji is offering Sanford employees who show their badge 25% off their orders during the month of April.
- Love’s Travel Stop is offering first responders and medical professionals a free medium fountain drink or coffee nation-wide now through May 31.
- Dairy Queen at the 21st Street and Minnesota Avenue location in Sioux Falls is offering Sanford employees 25% off any regular priced item when they show their employee ID now through May 31.
- Sioux Falls Ford is offering first responders and medical professionals 20% off oil changes through April 30.
- Blarney Stone Pub is giving customers the opportunity to donate toward gift cards for front line heath care workers.
Lodging discounts
Sanford Health has partnered with select hotels to offer rooms to employees at a reduced rate during this pandemic. Employees and volunteers can show their ID badge to get the discount. They can find lists of the specific hotels in certain communities on Inside Sanford.
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Posted In Bemidji, Community, COVID-19, Grand Forks, Sioux Falls
