There’s no denying that the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has hit the United States pretty hard. Over a million people have unfortunately tested positive for the virus, and sadly some have lost their lives from it.
In a double-whammy, the country’s economy is also in bad shape right now. Putting aside the workers that can’t do their jobs due to being ill because of COVID-19, many others are finding themselves without a job due to lockdown restrictions in each state.
Of all the states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, New York state is undoubtedly taking the brunt from a health care and economic perspective. The latest figures show that approximately 327,469 people in New York state tested positive for COVID-19.
The effect of COVID-19 on the service industry
The service industry comprises all manner of businesses ranging from coffee shops, restaurants, and bars through to hotels and retail stores. COVID-19 has been particularly bad for the industry as most people in it cannot do their work from home.
As a result, many employees have found themselves without a job as their employers cannot operate their businesses. A lot of servers find they cannot remain employed as the businesses they work for can’t afford to keep them on.
For example, small independent retail businesses may only turn over enough money to pay staff wages and net their owners a small profit each month. The government isn’t offering much financial assistance for businesses, other than loans and certain relief options.
The problem with small businesses taking out a loan, even from the government or privately through a bank, is they have to pay the money back. If those small businesses only make a small profit, a loan could eventually bankrupt them during times of poor trading.
How a popular coffee brand is helping laid-off staff
The Death Wish Coffee Company is a brand known throughout New York and beyond for creating what it claims is the world’s strongest coffee. They are one of the country’s leading coffee roasters, and their flavors have even made their way into outer space!
These days, the brand is keeping its feet firmly on Earth. The COVID-19 crisis has pivoted Death Wish Coffee into T-shirt design and manufacture – but for charitable reasons. Recently, the Ballston Spa brand launched its “Broke, not Busted” initiative.
Collaborating with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Death Wish Coffee hopes to raise $75,000 to help out of work servers in the area that lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are selling two designs of T-shirts, available in sizes XS to 5XL. The first design features the words “when this is all over, please continue to stay at least 6 feet away from me” inspired by one of their memes.
The other design is the result of creative input from Albany-based tattoo artist Melanie Lucia-Clarke. Both T-shirts cost $25 each and can be bought from www.deathwishcoffee.com/notbusted.