SACRAMENTO, Calif — Sacramento businesses were just starting to open up after two months of closures because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, after protests began in honor of George Floyd, some people decided to vandalize and loot businesses in a manner unlike anything the city has seen in recent years.
Businesses were left shattered and vandalized.
But by Sunday morning, people gathered in downtown to help clean up Sacramento, and some want to know if there is more they can do.
The Downtown Sacramento Partnership saw the community's desire to help and provided an outlet to help on June 2.
Downtown Sacramento Partnership put together a donation page for people wanting to help local businesses affected by the lootings, which followed George Floyd protests.
The funds will be given to small, locally-owned businesses through the partnership's Downtown Sacramento Foundation. Donations can be made on the partnership's website with a minimum of $10.
The Downtown Sacramento Partnership said it could take weeks to know how much the damage will cost the local businesses, but the cost is upwards of $10 million.
Reach out to a local business
Every business is different and has different needs. If you want to help your favorite downtown business, reach out to them and ask what they need.
Some businesses need help with cleaning, fixing and replacing damaged or stolen items in their shop. Your favorite local shop may have specific suggestions or needs that you can help them or help other businesses.
Over the weekend many people went out to help clean up downtown Sacramento by sweeping up glass.
For Costanza's, a bar near L Street and 21st Street, a friend of the owner, Gabriel Owens, set up a GoFundMe page after he posted support of the movement and disdain for the crime that followed peaceful protests over the weekend.
Owens posted his appreciation for the donations offering a pint to all who help other local businesses in downtown Sacramento.
"Anyone who is volunteering time, money, supplies, etc to the cleanup in Sacramento will get a complimentary drink on us," Owens said in a Facebook post. "Just post a picture in the comments and show us when you come in. If the complimentary drink isnt [sic] incentive enough, we hope the shared pictures of positivity will motivate everyone to do the same."
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