By Sarah Engelman: CARE’s 10th Anniversary celebration continues in August with a new campaign titled “Shop with CARE”! For Shop with CARE, businesses pledge to donate 10% or more of their proceeds during certain days of August to CARE. In exchange CARE will promote the business through advertising and social media. By partnering with local businesses, CARE aims to encourage support for the local economy of the Cape and Islands while also raising proceeds to fund its work, such as its annual project grant program.

Some shops that will be participating in Shop with CARE include Cape Cod Coffee, Cape & Islands Tea, three fins coffee roasters, Green Road Refill and all five J.McLaughlin stores (Chatham, Osterville, Mashpee, Nantucket and Edgartown) on the Cape & Islands. Ron Reddick and Catherine Bieri, the owners of three fins coffee roasters, are excited to work with CARE for this campaign. They say, “We work with and support CARE because the relationship aligns with our sustainability and community values to help protect the local environment, reduce our environmental footprint, and benefit our community.”

CARE’s director Jill Talladay is also looking forward to Shop with CARE. “CARE is always looking to involve the community and businesses in its work,” she explains. “The partnership between CARE and local businesses helps everyone. The businesses will receive promotion across CARE’s platforms, revenue will stay within our local economy and CARE will raise awareness for its own work.”

CARE welcomes any other interested businesses of any type to participate. To help encourage this, it has issued several challenges. The “Barrels and Brew Challenge” invites Cape and Islands wineries and breweries to “hop” in and “uncork” their sustainability contributions and the “Caffeine Challenge” aims to jump start the involvement of local coffee companies who brew up support for CARE. To contact CARE and show that your business CAREs, reach out directly to info@careforthecapeandislands.org

Both local residents and visitors are invited to participate and to do some retail therapy during August, which is one of the busiest months to be on the Cape and Islands. Shopping locally has two main benefits for the Cape and Islands. First, it helps support local businesses and business owners. Many businesses have suffered financially during the pandemic, so shopping with them is a great way to show your appreciation. Secondly, it helps reduce your carbon footprint. E-commerce is a huge contributor to rising global emissions, but shopping locally can help combat this. It is both convenient and more environmentally friendly. With all of the amazing businesses on the Cape and Islands, you can find everything you need right in our backyard!

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