Covid19 Letter
March 15th 2020
A letter on COVID-19 and a chaotic time
From Danny and Robin Sikkens
“Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain…” – Maya Angelou, Poet
To Our Social Goods Family,
We have been observing our business partners in our community with their messages and informative action-based tasks to fight against Covid-19 in a collective force to ‘curve the line’ and keep those impacted most by illness safe.
Our outlook is that, however extremely serious, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel and this outbreak, too, will pass. How fast we can get over this depends on all of us, together, collectively.
Social Goods is coming on its 5th year in business and we have been so blessed from the response in our community. We have always held ourselves to a higher standard of cleanliness and sanitation, as our children also eat, meet and play here. We realize that a huge draw is that we are seen as ‘your living room away from your living room’ – a place where families gather, eat and enjoy.
Our main goal is to stay open. We have been hit extremely hard in cancelled events, reservations and a huge decrease in sales in a very short amount of time. That combine with some major expenses in renovations and building improvements creates a tight crunch for this small family-based business.
Gift Card Option- buy now spend later
Gift certificates are available online. If you’d like to purchase a gift certificate please see www.socialgoodsmarket.com – for $100 in gift certificates purchased, you’ll receive an additional $10 gift certificate for you or a friend.
“I love the smell of bleach in the morning!’ -Chef Chris Czarnecki, Joel Palmer House
Some changes you’ll see around Social Goods during this season;
· Growlers – We will be requiring a mandatory sanitation on all growlers fills from our team through a highly stringent routine of cleaning outside items – this will avoid any cross contamination.
· Our water stations will be brought behind the bar – please ask any team member for some water at any time and we will be happy to fill a glass for you.
· Coffee pump stations will also be held behind that bar – for coffee refills, please ask any team member and well be happy to fill your cup.
· We are requiring a bleach water hand washing station behind our point of sale systems, and that the system is cleaned between every transaction with a sanitation wipe from our team member. In additional we are reviewing our strict handwashing routine at our food prep stations to include a 2x ‘happy birthday song’.
· All areas where we touch often (frig handles, front door and bathroom handles, tabletop surfaces, remote controls, handles of mugs from mug club members, etc.) will be cleaned on an rotating schedule with bleach.
· The financial hit has had its impact on our staff’s hours – we are trying to keep their lives impacted as little as possible We are maintaining our hourly staff as best we can. We are asking our team that should they show any sign of being sick that they stay home. This tight time and higher ‘stay home’ requests may result in slightly longer lines, or food wait time. We appreciate your understanding.
· Our plate area and condiment area is restricted to only team members being able to accommodate your needs. Normally we’d say ‘grab what you need’. We will now only allow our team to grab anything you may need and get it for you. (Knifes, napkins, plates, togo boxes etc.).
· Be kind to one another and join us in our efforts to continue to foster this amazing community that we have. In a time of crisis, we have to remember our humanity.
Our Play Area:
This is an interesting topic. We know how we clean that area daily and sanitize it on a daily schedule. We’ve observed other public spaces (the grocery store for example – with children and community groups spending 1hr plus together touching everything….) as well as how other play space areas, child areas, churches, etc have responded. We have also spent time reviewing how the public has responded to those responses from the organizations.
We have had a massive amount of cancellations and reservations reschedules for child’s play in the last week and have done our best to interview our members on their thoughts as to their concerns.
We believe in the base of all things we are all intending for the same results, healthy people, happy experiences and a collective intent to do the best we can.
Over the last few days, the play area has been opened and used in very small volume.
As of now, which can change quickly, we are keeping the area opening and maintaining the cleaning schedule to a higher standard than ever. In addition, we are asking every person who participates in using that space to self-review hygiene, cleanliness, and over-all sanitation of that area. Should anyone be observed with any sign of illness (leaking anywhere, a cough, a child mentioning they aren’t feeling well etc.) We will restrict use of that area for those members until this phase passes out and they feel fully better. Finally, on the play area, we have removed all small porous items that carry germs. . . wooden building blocks, trains, pretend food items, books, etc. Outside toys are also restricted as we cannot ensure the cleanliness of those items.
For updates on the play area please see our facebook page or www.socialgoodsmarket.com/playarea
NEW - Home Delivery of food, beer, wine and cider!!!
If you know what you’d like, call us and we can prepare it for you, send you an online invoice or take payment over the phone, and happily provide a curb side pick up option or have it ready for you when you’re here. (bypass any lines or touching of things).
We are offering delivery at no cost. Because of our OLCC permit we are able to delivery wine, beer and cider (with some restrictions); we are paring that with a 16in pizza (or other food option) within our Newberg/Dundee area. (staff permitting too). If you’re interested in this delivery option it will support us as well as offer a fun, people-less, option for you.
Let’s be kind to one another our friends. Let’s seek solutions and not let hype influence our executive minds. Let’s use this time to bring us closer together (well not physically but you know).
If there’s someone you know in your neighborhood or circle of friends who needs help, please let us know. Food items, help paying your bills, toilet paper =) – we have a great community in Newberg with a lot of people willing, wanting and able to help including your Social Goods Market.
With questions, concerns or ideas or to place a delivery/togo order please email danny@vinooregon.com or call/text us at 971-333-8466(WINE).
Love you guys, God bless, and let’s treat one another with kindness.
Danny and Robin and the whole SG Team.