SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — People helping people -- that's been a constant theme during this pandemic as we've been so many examples of people lifting one another up and supporting each other.
And that's the main mission of the Support Schuylkill Campaign.
"The goal is to support local small businesses, and in turn, they use those funds to not only pay their employees, but they go on to feed our essential workers on the front line," said Emily Ehlinger of Support Schuylkill.
The initiative was started in the early stages of the pandemic by Emily Ehlinger, who works for two nonprofit organizations in Pottsville.
Once a week, she picks a business or two in Schuylkill County for the community to support with donations or by buying gift cards, and so those businesses can stay up and running through this financial crisis.
She posts all of the information for that week in this Facebook group.
"I was an actress and a traveling education artist, so I went around to Connecticut and Massachusetts and New York. Then I moved home, and I was so heartened by the revitalized Pottsville momentum, and I saw so much positive change then this happened, and I thought 'oh no.' Just as wheels are starting to turn. Progress is slow, but something like this could devastate our community," said Ehlinger.
And all you have to do is call that featured business and ask to donate whatever amount you're comfortable with, and all of the money goes directly to that business.