TEMPLE, Texas — The City of Temple is hosting a virtual event so the community can help small businesses from the comfort of their home.
First Friday is an event hosted every month in the historic downtown Temple area where you can support small local businesses. Every first Friday of the month the event is hosted with street music, performances, food, drinks, and shopping.
With social distancing guidelines, many businesses have been affected. Katie and Brittany Sauceda have been running Tip Top Grooming for about a year and they have been participating in First Friday for as long as they have been there.
"We still have people wanting to set up appointments so it's really hard having to turn that business away," Katie Sauceda said.
Now, their business is considered non-essential. The only service they can provide is their dog treats by delivery.
"This virtual Friday gives them an outlet to still be able to provide their services because there's still a demand for them," Brittany Sauceda said.
The City of Temple has never hosted a virtual First Friday. Interim public relations manager Cody Weems said for the sake of so many local businesses, they felt it was important not to cancel.
"We have ways to support them during this time and make sure we pay them back for all the ways they support the community," Weems said.
Darling Decor and More is another business considered non-essential. Owner Lea McHorse said she relies on the community, but she knows many people are struggling.
"The people who are more financially prepared, it's those people who I really ask to support," McHorse said.
Her store is about 4,000 square feet and packed with merchandise, but people can't go in. So she's now turning to Facebook to sell.
"All of our bills are still there, it's just our customers that are not so we have to be as creative as we can to make it though this difficult time," McHorse said.
Virtual First Friday is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Discover Downtown Temple website.