MEDFORD, Ore. — A Rogue Valley man is trying to help local restaurants hit hard by the pandemic by using social media.
Bruce Davidson created the “Help Save our Southern Oregon Restaurants” Facebook page this week, as many struggle to turn a profit during these unprecedented times.
“I want to try to get a movement going, at least for the next two weeks,” said Davidson.
He’s asking the community to donate to the Facebook fundraiser he has set up. He plans to then use the money raised, to buy gift cards for local restaurants.
His vision is that the various places will hand them out to customers.
So, not only will you spend money at your favorite eateries, you may be introduced to someplace new.
“It’s gonna depend on what people want to donate. If we have funds to purchase, it would depend on the restaurant,” Davidson said.
He hopes restaurant owners will hand out the gift cards in sealed envelopes, at random, so no restaurant is favored.
“It’s restaurants helping restaurants,” he said.
Of course, getting restaurants onboard may be tough, especially these days. He hopes that people and businesses will donate to the cause to help the restuarants.
Davidson says he’s already done something similar.
He purchased multiple gift certificates from New Far East in downtown Medford and handed them out to gas attendants.
The restaurant manager says it brought new customers in.
“Due to Bruce buying those gift certificates, they’re giving us a try, so we’re very appreciative of him,” said manager May Wu.
This may be a different effort, but he wants to do anything he can to help local businesses.
“Hopefully, it catches on to where other areas not only in our state, but our country [will] follow suit and we’re able to keep these restaurants,” Davidson said.
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*This article has been updated to clarify that the funds will be raised through community donations.
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