With just a little over a week left until Valentine's Day, many of us are busy making preparations for showing the ones we love just how much we care. It's no secret though that this year's holiday looks different than years past. No crowded restaurants, no big parties, no surprise cruises or last-minute vacations and no large-scale community events will be making their way onto the calendar. However, the reason for the day still rings true, and it's a good reminder that love isn't something you buy, but rather, something you show...and you can show it in SO many ways.

Here are some fun ways you can celebrate (safely) with the ones you care about most this holiday, whether it's your sweetheart, your kids, or someone else that's special in your life:

• Do a "ding-dong and dash" surprise! This could be dropping off dinner, a homemade valentine card, a special dessert, or a bouquet of roses, but the idea is to ring the doorbell, and run away quickly after leaving the surprise at the recipient's front door. This is a fun way to show your love to an aging parent or loved one stuck at home, or to surprise someone who is currently in quarantine and can't celebrate the way they usually would.

• Classic candy and cards...with a twist! While we all remember exchanging homemade valentine's and treats with our classmates, teachers, or coworkers in years past, this year the tradition might need a little tweaking. Instead of homemade goodies that could seem risky to some people, opt for store-bought candies or treats that are safely and individually wrapped. Put plenty of extra effort into your homemade card to give it the unique and special element that the treat will be missing this holiday!

• Make early reservations, or enjoy a candlelight dinner at home. Restaurant reservations will fill more quickly than usual this year since most dining spaces are operating at limited capacity. Reserve your table as soon as possible, or make plans for a romantic dinner with candles for your sweetie at home. A simple setup on your own patio makes it feel more special than eating at the kitchen table, and if you add in takeout from their favorite place and a decadent dessert, they're sure to be just as happy as they would be in a 5-star local eatery!

• Give back! Showing love to others is one of the best ways you can celebrate the holiday of love. Many community charities are in need right now, and donating to a local food pantry or shelter, or volunteering your time and energy (if you feel safe to do so) is a wonderful way to love those around you and bring yourself tons of joy in the process.

EZ Roofing Systems is proud to be part of the Polk County community, and we can’t think of a better place to live and love. While many of our holidays and traditions have looked different over the last year, we know that our resilient and resourceful friends, neighbors, and clients always find a way to celebrate the love and joy behind each holiday in whatever ways they can. We hope these tips and tricks will make Valentine’s Day 2021 just a little bit brighter for you, your family, and those around you!

2020 was certainly one for the books wasn't it? Over the last year, we have experienced unprecedented circumstances in our communities, states, our country, and around the world. The way we work, communicate with one another, go to the store, and even celebrate holidays changed in a matter of days, and we're still adjusting to this new "normal" we find ourselves in. We're reminded though that one thing hasn't changed in our own community, and that's something we believe could change the world, no matter what circumstances come our way.

It's kindness.

Kindness keeps us connected whether by screen or in person, even when a mask hides our smile. Kindness keeps local businesses running because their friends and neighbors are committed to helping them through this time. Kindness helps teachers and students alike as they push forward on this journey they weren't prepared for.

It's ALWAYS best to choose kindness. With the changes we've experienced over the last year though, it's easy to wonder how we can show kindness in 2021 when so many things are still different than they were before. The ways we might have connected with others in the past are no longer viable options, and it can be hard to adjust your focus and see other ways of doing things in the midst of your own chaotic life. That's why we've put together these 3 easy ways to extend kindness throughout the coming year, no matter what it holds.

Choose Your Words Wisely

A kind word holds power, yet how often do we purposefully share them with those around us? Throughout the coming year, look for moments to interject a word of kindness or encouragement. Your waitress, your checkout attendant, your child's teacher, your lonely neighbor, the mom in your playgroup, or your own family members could all use uplifting reminders of how much they are appreciated. Remember, our words aren't just spoken. What we write (or share) online holds just as much power, and we can make (or break) someone's day with what we put out there for others to see. Choose wisely.

Support Your Local Businesses

This last year has been especially hard for local businesses, and many of them are headed into 2021 wondering how they'll keep going. Keep in mind, these shops, restaurants, and service-providers go far beyond just the owner. Their families, their employees (who also have families) and their many customers who depend on them also need them to stay afloat, and YOU can play a part in making that happen. Make it a resolution this year to shop local as much as possible. Instead of grabbing food from a drive-through window on the way home after a busy day, opt for takeout from a local dive instead. When it's time to buy teacher gifts, birthday presents, valentine surprises, or even household needs, keep our own downtown shops in mind first. When we pay them, we’re not only putting more money in the pocket of some wealthy international CEO...we’re paying for a child's soccer gear, daycare, college savings, or putting food on someone's table.

Take Action

Perhaps this is one of the most impactful ways we can show kindness in the months ahead. Take action and be a part of making our community a better place. Volunteer with our local nonprofits who need help more than ever right now. Check on friends and neighbors, and be the one who shows up to deliver a load of groceries, get their mail, walk their dog, help with virtual learning, or simply bring a cup of coffee and a listening ear. Reach out to those who are hurting and offer, in addition to kindness, some hope and encouragement that they are seen and heard, and that you care. While words are important and matter in a big way, actions definitely speak the loudest, and our choice to show kindness with our own two hands could be the pivotal point for someone who needs a little extra help right now.

EZ Roofing Systems is committed to making kindness a focus of our own business in the year ahead. From the members of our own team, to each customer or potential client we come into contact with each day, our goal is to leave them a little happier and a little more at peace than they were before, and that we will have a reputation of respect, integrity, and yes, kindness here in the community. We want to be an example that any profession can wear kindness well, even roofing. Here’s to this New Year from EZ Roofing Systems!

COVID-19, or Coronavirus, is now a worldwide pandemic, and as it starts to have a greater affect on us here in the US, many business owners and employers are worried about how they'll stay afloat, and how they will continue to pay employees on staff. See, employers don't just see their staff as faces in a crowd. They see mortgages that need to be paid, mouths that need to be fed, and vehicles that need fuel in order to get to jobs, doctors appointments, and more. The pressure on employers in general is high, but for small, local businesses, it can be crushing during a time of crisis such as the one we face now. 

Those of us here in Polk County are facing days, or even weeks, of quarantine at home and with bars, restaurants, and other social gathering sites off limits, it's easy to hole up in our houses with grocery delivery and Netflix and wait for everything to blow over. However, if we fully pull back from our local businesses, they'll have no choice but to close their doors long-term, and THAT will punch our economy hard enough that we ourselves feel it as life returns to normal. So, what can we do as friends and neighbors to make sure our local businesses continue to survive (or even thrive!) without putting ourselves or others at risk? 

• Purchase gift cards! Gift cards and gift certificates don't require that you use them now, but the money goes into the pocket of the business owner and lets them keep the lights on. Consider purchasing a few as early birthday or holiday gifts for friends or loved ones, or buy a few for yourself to use throughout the coming months. If the business offers curbside pickup or delivery options, using the gift cards for those services can be a win-win. You get an easy dinner after being cooped up with the family all day, and local businesses can continue forward. 

• If businesses offer pickup or delivery options, use them! Many local restaurants and service providers are offering this for a limited time even if it's not usually in their list of provided options. They'll bring food out to your car in a secure manner, or deliver it to your front door. From dry cleaning and tax paperwork, to dinner from your favorite local joint, you can continue with life in a semi-normal state without compromising your own health or the health of others around you.

•  Take advantage of discounts and promotions. To keep customers coming in the door (or rather, pulling up to the curb), many businesses are offering special promotions or discounts for this time frame. Take advantage of them while they last. You get a great deal, and the business gets to keep at least a percentage of their income. 

• Shop local when possible. We know it's easy to click that button for the large-scale delivery services and big box stores, but the local grocery store down the street hasn't had a customer all day. Your order will be one click among millions if you choose the big box store, but could put food on the table for the local business owner. If you can, shop local during this time. Many stores are providing pickup options they wouldn't other wise make available, so you can still support small business without breaking your social distancing protocol. 

• Don't cancel your regular services if they don't put you and your family at risk. We understand not having in-home services continue during this time, but when it comes to your outdoor providers (exterior pest control, landscaping and lawn services, roofing, pressure washing, pool cleaning...the list could go on!) there is no need to call of your scheduled appointment. These businesses count on you to keep their doors open as well, and having your regularly scheduled service means less impact for the economy as a whole. Plus, you can keep some semblance of "business as usual" in your own home. You can still use your pool, your home will stay in good condition, etc. 

EZ Roofing Systems is here and still serving clients throughout Polk County at this time. We continue to provide the quality, personalized care you've come to know and expect from us. If for some reason you need to reschedule a previously scheduled appointment with us for a roof inspection, or a meeting regarding a roof replacement or repair, please feel free to give us a call and we'll discuss options, alternate dates, etc. Let us all remember that we are in this together as a community, and will make it out on the other side alongside all of our small business owners we depend on to make Polk County what it is.