Little Falls paying it forward

The City of Little Falls has come up with a way to support local workers who are considered essential employees.

Come up with a way to recognize essential personnel.

They're calling it little falls essentials: support those who support us.

Newschannel 2's kirk tupaj explains how this heart felt thank you is working.

The city of little falls is partnering with main street first and think local to recognize anyone considered an essential worker.

The goal was to raise $3000 and use the money to purchase gift cards from struggling local businesses.

Then randomly pick 1 essential person in the community each day for 30 days, and reward them with $100 in gift cards.

Mayor mark blask believed in the community, but the response wasn't quite what they expected.

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None .

None sot: mayor mark blask, city of little falls within 24 hours of the call going out, we exceeded our goal of $3000,whicy amazing and really heartwarming.

The donations came in so quickly, that in a matter of 3 days, they received over $11,000.

They decided to triple the number of people receiving gift cards, and even added a little twist from the heart.

Sot: mayor mark blask, city of little falls so in addition to the $100 that the winners will receive, we're going to put a $25 gift certificate in an envelope that's already stamped, and we're going to ask that person to give it forward.

To go ahead and write a note, and send it to a neighbor, give it to a co- worker.

Somebody who's affected by this where it would brighten their day.

Kinney drug employee melissa bukovsky was among the first group of winners, and paid it forward by surprising her co-worker, who came out to support her during her interview, with the $25 gift card.

Sot: melissa bukovsky, essential worker gift card winner actually i was going to pick renee.

No, because i was thinking&.

Yeah i'm going to pick renee.

She's phenomena.

She helps us out and keeps us on our toes.

'oh thank you.'

(laughs) the program is helping local business owners like david casullo who believes every dollar counts, but this program may have an even bigger effect.

Sot: david casullo, owner canal side inn & the stone mill the dollars themselves are you know a bit nominal, but getting people back into the public, getting them back into the environments where businesses like ours are, hoping they will come back once this ends is really the intrinsic value beyond just the dollars.

Sot: kirk tupaj even though responses are still coming in, the mayor will not be accepting any donations after the close of business on friday.

He says the goal has not only been achieved, but exceeded, and doesn't want to put any additional financial stress on an already stressed economy.

In little falls, i'm kirk tupaj reporting for newschannel 2.

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