Weekly Message ~ November 2020
Business News
State Limits Activities, Curtails Indoor Dining, as COVID-19 Cases Rise in San Mateo County
San Mateo County falls back to the more restrictive red Tier 2 effective Tuesday on the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan as indoor dining is rolled back and fresh capacity and other limits are placed on businesses and other activities.

Following an increase in coronavirus cases, the state of California moved San Mateo County back from orange Tier 3 where the risk level from the virus is considered “moderate” to “substantial” under the red Tier 2. The setback affects a wide sector of businesses and adds to the urgency to follow health guidelines and not mix households indoors.

“While this is a setback, we need to look to a brighter future and to support local businesses and our local restaurants,” said Warren Slocum, president of the Board of Supervisors. “Let’s all take a pledge to patronize our favorite local businesses as best we can. That could be an order we pick up at the curbside or a take-out dinner. Let’s help one another the best we can at this most trying of times.”
San Mateo County Small Business Relief Fund
Grants Up to $25,000
To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on San Mateo County small business owners and their employees, the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors, has partnered with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, to distribute grants of $5,000 - $25,000 to cover expenses in the following categories: payroll, lease payments for business premises, PPP, costs related to re-opening, or COVID related pivots to their business model (ex. e-commerce set up, menu changes, new permit fees, etc.)

To qualify, small business owners must live in one of the following zip-codes:

Daly City: 94014 and 94015
East Palo Alto: 94303
Menlo Park: 94025
Unincorporated Mid-Coast: 94038
Pescadero: 94060
Redwood City/NFO: 94061, 94063
San Mateo: 94401, 94403
South San Francisco/San Bruno: 94066, 94080

Recipients must own a small business whose net income for 2019 did not exceed $120,000. For partnerships, a person meeting the above qualifications must own 51% of the business. 

Further, business owners can benefit from business support services from Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (this can include classes, workshops, and or 1:1 Consultation or Financial Coaching).
Funding is limited - please apply by Monday, November 30th.
22nd Annual M-A Canned Food Drive
Now through December 12, 2020, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB), M-A students will collect food from the community to help feed several hundred families in our area. The Drive is organized by the M-A Leadership class.

M-A community members can donate cans in the barrels at the following locations:
  • Bianchini’s in Ladera
  • Delucchi’s Market in Redwood City
  • Draeger’s in Menlo Park
  • Safeway stores on El Camino and in Sharon Heights
  • Trader Joe’s in Menlo Park
  • Robert’s Market in Portola Valley

Ways that you can help:
  • Donate online. With your support, every dollar donated will create two nutritious meals for those in need.
  • When you are shopping for your family, please add extra cans to your cart and drop them into the SHFB barrels.
  • Encourage students in your family to conduct food drives in your neighborhood!

Ways to obtain food for your family
  • Call our Canned Food Drive Hotline at (650)322-5311 ext. 58669
  • Email Student Activities Director Mike Amoroso at mamoroso@seq.org
Share Joy & Shop Small All Season Long!
This holiday season looks a little different, but we can still share joy.

Shop Small and support your favorite small businesses – both in-store and online – all holiday season long. Don’t forget: This year Small Business Saturday falls on November 28.

History of Small Business Saturday:

American Express cares deeply about thriving communities and believes small businesses are at the core of every successful neighborhood. That's why — in the midst of the recession in 2010 — they created Small Business Saturday on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses.

Around Menlo Park
The Climate Reality Project
Climate Reality Leadership Corps member Harriet Harvey Horn will deliver the most current version of Al Gore’s Climate Reality presentation (as seen in the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth") that aims to answer three key questions: Should we change? Can we change? Will we change?

She'll also provide hope, in the form of information as to what we as individuals can do.

Tuesday, November 17, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Online Event: Register Online

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
The City of Menlo Park celebrates the 2020 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. The day was first celebrated in Menlo Park during the 2019-2020 school year, and recognizes Ruby Bridges, who at the age of six, became the first African-American student to integrate into an elementary school in the South on November 14, 1960. Her simple but courageous act of showing up for school each day played an important part in the civil rights movement.

Families can take a walk together and discuss how Ruby’s action back in 1960 is still relevant and how the work for justice and equity continues today. 

Walk with our community on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, and be sure to share your pictures and tag @CityofMenloPark on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Pictures of our 2020 Ruby Bridges Day walks submitted by community members will be presented during a City Council meeting in December.

You can also email your photos and selfies to the Safe Routes to School team.

Thanksgiving 2020 Specials at Local Restaurants
Don’t feel like cooking on Thanksgiving? Here are some local dining options!

Make a reservation for dinner or order for pickup at one of the following Menlo Park restaurants this year for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26:

  • Camper - Pickup will be available Wednesday, November 25th between 12 to 5 pm. Reheat Instructions will be provided.
  • Bistro Vida - Call for reservations and holiday takeout menu.
  • Flea Street Cafe - Place your order by Monday, November 23rd for pick-up on Wednesday, November 25.
  • Left Bank - Open from 12 to 8 pm on Thanksgiving Day, and pick up and delivery of the Thanksgiving Day menu will also be available on the holiday. Reservations required.
  • Oak + Violet - Offering a 4 Course Prix Fixe Thanksgiving Menu, Reservations are required by calling 650-304-3880 or by booking online.
Members at Work
Draeger's Market Holiday Guide
Cater for Thanksgiving 2020 with Draeger's Market! They have many options for holiday dinners, entrées, sides, party platters and more.

Please place your order early in-store, or online at draegers.com.

Draeger's is closed Thanksgiving day! Order deadline is
Monday, November 23, 2020 at 12 noon.

Amici's November Deal
20% OFF Items of the Month at Amici's East Coast Pizzeria!

Enjoy 20% off Amici's items of the month:
New Haven White Clam Pizza & Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta

Offer valid on pick-up & delivery orders during the month of
November via amicis.com or mobile app. Use  'NOV20'  at checkout.
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce | (650) 325-2818 | menloparkchamber.com