CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — When you think of essential business that are open, you might not think of a printing shop.
Greg Anderson, owner of Minuteman press in Castle Rock, said under normal circumstances, the shop sends out mailers for Douglas County elections, paperwork for the sheriff's department and for the county, among others.
Of course, these days are anything but normal.
When Colorado's stay-at-home order came down, Anderson started printing something that he calls community kindness cards.
The card is about the size of a post card. It has a blank space for the name of somebody looking to help another person, their address and their phone number. It also has several check boxes describing the ways they can offer help to a neighbor or friend. This includes picking up groceries, a friendly phone call, sending mail or gathering urgent supplies.
They are free, Anderson said, and people can either go to the store to pick them up and they can deliver.
“This would be a great way to reach out to (a person in need) and let them know, 'Here, if you need help, reach out to us. Here’s our phone number — give us a call,'” Anderson said.
This is just one of the many ways Anderson is printing for a good cause.
For restaurants, he printed and gave away curbside delivery signs. He created and is giving away other signs that say “We’re Open” and “We’re closed but we’re coming back on this date.”
It’s a way Anderson says he can give back to a community that has been so supportive of his business.
“Americans have always been that way. Coloradans have always been that way. I’m optimistic about all of this," he said. "We’re going to love being back outside again, being able to have a picnic or whatever it might be and I’m just looking forward to it.”
To top it off, he also set up a webpage that welcomes local businesses to post special offers that anyone can take advantage of. The site is called Bounce Back Castle Rock. The Bounce Back Castle Rock Coalition says this program will help sustain employees who may be out of work, or working fewer hours, and help stimulate the local economy by intentionally buying local.
If you would like a free Community Kindness Card, contact Minuteman Press in Castle Rock.