CAN DO is among several Greater Hazleton businesses and organizations to serve as leading donors for a new microgrant program that's being launched to help local small businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, Greater Hazleton Civic Partnership and other members of the Greater Hazleton COVID-19 Recovery & Resiliency (R&R) Task Force are establishing the Small Business Emergency Relief Microgrant Program. All funds raised will be dedicated towards a microgrant program for local, small businesses within the Greater Hazleton area that have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Socialocca Webinar Series with THInCCAN BE is joining other members of the Hazleton Innovation Collaborative (THInC) and the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center to sponsor the May Marketing Series designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs navigate the waters of web and social media development and management.

The May Marketing Series will be hosted by Ryan Hertel of Socialocca, a digital marketing agency based in Wilkes-Barre. The six-part series will be held online every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. throughout May. Each week will feature one information session and one interactive Q&A session on a different topic.

Attendees do not have to participate in each session and can select the ones that are of most value to them and their business. Registration is required, as session space is limited, and can be done by visiting the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Events page at https://web.hazletonchamber.org/events?oe=true and selecting the session date from the calendar listing.

The May Marketing Series schedule is as follows:Tuesday, May 5 at 2 p.m. - How to Build a Website That's Better for Your Customers.
Thursday, May 7 at 2 p.m. - Q&A: How to Best Connect with Your Audience Through Your Website.
Tuesday, May 12 at 2 p.m. - Setting Up Your Social Media for Accessibility and Success.
Thursday, May 14 at 2 p.m. - Q&A: How to Grow Your Engagement on Social Media and Beyond.
Tuesday, May 19 at 2 p.m. - Getting E-Commerce Ready: How to Set Up and Process Online Payments.
Thursday, May 21 at 2 p.m. - Q&A: Lessons Learned. Series Review.

Rep. Tarah Toohil and CEO partner to stabilize food sourcesCAN DO staff members,Brian Demshock, Utility Supervisor, and Marc Evancho, Utility Specialist, deliver 500 boxes for the food resources initiative.The office of State Rep. Tarah Toohil and the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) have been working together to stabilize food resources to help those in need throughout Greater Hazleton during the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative has been conducted with various food banks throughout Greater Hazleton and Toohil said the focus is on serving as many people in need as possible during this difficult time.

“Our office has been working with CEO to prepare our community with stable food pantry resources. We are trying to stabilize as many food banks as possible, as the need for food is growing as our community is faced with high unemployment and loss of income during the COVID-19 disaster declaration,” Toohil said.

In addition to supplying food, there was a need for corrugated boxes to make it possible to deliver the meals throughout the area. CAN DO assisted with the collection and delivery of more than 500 boxes for the project. The boxes came from several companies throughout CAN DO's parks, including PSI Container, Packaging Wholesalers, International Paper and others.

Toohil said, “We were able to set up 500 meals to be delivered last week but then there was an issue with needing delivery boxes. We are grateful to Nancy Stasko from CAN DO for immediately reaching out to the local employers to fulfill the need. We have an excellent group of community resources and we are glad that they were so immediately responsive. This is what makes the Greater Hazleton area a great community.”