So many NYC businesses have been severely affected by the pandemic, but perhaps none have been hit as hard as the shops and restaurants in Chinatown.
Besides the regular detrimental affects of forced closures and fluctuating safety rules, xenophobic fears of COVID-19 infiltrating Chinatown started as soon as last January, meaning that the Lower Manhattan neighborhood has been suffering with a lack of customers and foot traffic for the better part of year.
But luckily, one organization called Send Chinatown Love has been working to keep the historic neighborhood and immigrant-owned businesses afloat throughout the pandemic. Along with helping shops and restaurants start online avenues for revenue and social media platforms, organizing food crawls, and other fundraising campaigns, they are currently in the midst of the new called “Light Up Chinatown”…which will continue to help generations to come.
The organization is installing 250 new permanent light fixtures and traditional lanterns on Mott St. (from Canal St. to Bayard St.) and Bayard St. (from Mott St. to Bowery St.) to help draw more customers back to Chinatown’s streets and support local businesses. The idea was first thought of by manager of 46 Mott St Bakery Patrick Mock, and then was brought to life by City Council District 1 candidate Jenny Low, Chung Seto of United Democratic Organization (UDO), Joanne Kwong of Pearl River Mart and Send Chinatown Love.
You can donate to the campaign on their website here until Sunday, January 10, and of course go check out the lanterns in person and support Chinatown businesses at any time!
To find out more about the Send Chinatown Love, check out our video interview:
featured image source: Instagram / @olivialportfolio