A video campaign targeted at the coronavirus features Clinton business owners.
The Give a Damn campaign launched via a video posted to social media accounts and website of Utica-based graphic design company McGrogan Design. It debuted last month.
The campaign’s tagline is: Wash up, Mask up, Social Distance, Give a Damn.
The video starts with local pediatrician Dr. Jonathan Henderson telling area residents to “wear a mask; social distance; and practice excellent hand hygiene.”
“As difficult as it may be,” he continued in the video, “we need to refrain from in-home celebrations, including over the holidays. We must do this to stop the spread to help our frontline heroes and our hospitals and to protect our most vulnerable residents. We cannot ignore this any longer. We need to give a damn.”
After his message, the video cuts to various business owners. Clinton owners taking part are Maria Vallese of Retro Sorrento, Rachel Bartunek of Almost Local, Frank Elias of Utica Coffee, Nick Bonomo of Bonomo’s Dairy Creme and Sharrone Sofer of new restaurant The Compound.
They all give their reasons why they ‘give a damn’ during the pandemic. Each business owner then puts on a Give a Damn facemask.
Those masks were sold via the design company’s website after video watchers requested them. “The goal of this video was to simply raise awareness and to get as many of our local leaders and small business owners on camera, never to sell a product and earn a profit,” according to the McGrogan Design website.
All profits from mask purchases will go to the Mohawk Valley Covid-19 Response Fund.
According to mvcovidfund.com, “The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area have joined together to create a single community-wide fund to support organizations responding to human services needs in Herkimer and Oneida counties resulting from the impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
“The Mohawk Valley Covid-19 Response Fund is designed to rapidly deploy flexible resources in the form of grants on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the crisis, ensuring resources can quickly and nimbly meet evolving needs in real-time.”...