RICHMOND, Va. -- The City of Richmond plan to hand out 500 PPE kits to Richmond businesses Monday and Thursday as part of a $250,000 effort.
Businesses can pick up those kits Monday and Thursday this week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
City staff planned to be outside the Convention Center's 5th Street entrance to distribute supply kits to business owners.
The kits contain:
- Three bottles of spray disinfectant
- One gallon jug of disinfectant
- One disinfectant wipe dispenser
- 1,800 disinfectant wipes
- A gallon jug of hand wash
- Two gallon jugs of hand sanitizer
- Two boxes of gloves
- 100 masks
To be eligible for this support, businesses must be located in the City of Richmond and must verify this with a copy of their business license or a receipt of application for a business license, a utility bill statement, tax payment, or other documentation.
The city recommended business owners register here before pick up.
Monday morning, Joann Henry, Director of Dream Academy -- was the second in line to pickup supplies.
"It helps us a lot with our budget because it’s limited right now," said Henry. "Instead of going out buying supplies this has helped a lot."
Dream Academy is an adult high school that helps drop outs get their diplomas. Henry said they're doing most of their school online, and allowing only a small number of people in the building.
"In June we had a graduation. After graduation, things got a little slower because we wanted to be cautious about people coming in and about our health as well. So everyone who comes into Dream Academy, we take their temperature check, they must have a mask," Henry said. "I appreciate every opportunity we have for someone to assist us and we do need this."
Lafarn Burton, Owner of Lafarn and Company, a consulting and coaching business, also stopped by to pick up supplies Monday.
"Every time someone come, I do the whole wipe down clean up, masks at the door," said Burton. "Masks alone takes extra money."
She said the pandemic had caused some small business owners to live day to day, and the free supplies she received would be largely beneficial.
"I applaud the city. There are many small businesses which is the foundation of who we are in America," Burton said.
For Ken Roeper's Benjamin French Lighting business in Shockoe Bottom, he said supplies could last through the end of the year.
"We are a very small store. We’re not talking about huge square footage, so I think this will be a good boost for a good portion of 2021," said Roeper. "We're grateful to the city for what they've done."
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