Crispy Green Community Recovery Initiative

The events happening in the last week sadden me greatly in many respects. I felt that a part of my humanity was ripped out of me when I watched George Floyd’s arrest video. I thought that I would only have to see a human being treating another human being like that in wars or in Hollywood movies… Witnessing it live, on the streets of America, shook me to my core.

I had a dark and uneasy feeling that the reactions to George Floyd’s killing would be raw and there would be massive protests in the country. If the situation was not handled properly, it could go bad and become chaotic because there was already so much pent up anger, frustration and despair caused by the COVID pandemic. But the scenes of the riots and destruction were a lot more than I could have imagined. Especially seeing businesses, many of them small shops, being burned to the ground broke my heart.

As a small business owner, I know the blood, sweat and tears that go into building a business. For many small business owners, their stores/shops/restaurants are their livelihood and the most valuable assets they own. To watch their lives’ work, their dreams and their livelihood being destroyed by angry mobs has got to be the one of the most heart wrenching things that anyone could experience.

I feel the pain out there. I also feel worried and helpless…

Some of our younger staff members gave me an idea – we can channel the negative energy into something positive, no matter how small! We need to take action.

As a company, we believe in Using Food As a Force for Good! I want to find ways to help some small businesses that were affected by the riots to recover. To start, we are offering up to three months free-fill inventory of our products to affected retailers. If you own an independent business that sells snack products and your store was destroyed or damaged, please contact us at sales@crispygreen.com, with your resale certificate and we will assist with the free-fill.

In addition, we have donated to the Lift Fund to help lift other small businesses impacted by the recent tragic events. I encourage others to do the same. No amount is too small.

I know that there will be a long way ahead before we will recover from the recent crises. Amidst all the challenges, if we could act kinder and more respectful towards each other and be more empathetic, we will heal quicker as a community and as a nation.

Hope you are well and safe!”