A Black Diamond entrepreneur is spreading joy in a community-wide initiative that supports businesses while lifting the spirits of those in the area.
Two weeks ago, Chelsea Vogel spearheaded Share the Joy Foothills where members of the public are invited to donate money toward a gift that is purchased at a Black Diamond or Turner Valley business to be given to a family or individual struggling during the COVID-19 crisis. Vogel operates Image Marketing, which provides online and offline marketing services to businesses, and is vice-chair of the Black Diamond and Turner Valley Inter-municipal Economic Development Committee.
“This whole concept is about supporting small businesses in a small way while bringing joy to someone or a family,” said Vogel. “I wanted to do something that encompassed both, so I decided to do this.”
When Vogel posted her idea on social media, she said her private messages “blew up.”
“I had people wanting to email transfer me money so I could spend it at any business I knew that needed support,” she said. “I had people who gave me a list of families that are going through very rough times and needed a pick-me-up. Businesses are busy creating special packages for those families. The majority of them are experiencing job loss.”
Among them are Country Store Diner, Drift, Stepping Stones Occupational Therapy and Color Me Crazy.
Erica Kronstal, owner of Stepping Stones Occupational Therapy for Children northwest of Turner Valley, made a donation to buy a gift for a family she nominated.
“I thought the mom could really use something for her own self-care,” Kronstal said. “I feel like everybody is struggling right now. Everybody has their own list of stresses and everybody is just taking it day by day figuring out how to cope.”
When Kronstal saw Vogel’s post about Share the Joy Foothills, she was ecstatic.
“It’s been on my mind a lot about helping other people in the community, then Chelsea comes up with this million dollar idea that’s a total win-win,” she said. “It gives them that pick-me-up that’s so important for everybody’s mental health and also helping small businesses that are obviously struggling right now. What Chelsea is doing is just so great to support small businesses.”
With her business experiencing its own struggles during the COVID-19 crisis, Kronstal said while she can’t help a lot she knew a little could go a long way - especially during such challenging times.
“What Chelsea is doing is small but it’s so powerful to give people little pick-me-ups to brighten somebody’s day,” she said. “With what’s going on right now something small can make somebody’s day for sure.”
Kara Martin, owner of Turner Valley home-based business Color Me Crazy, also offered to help out after seeing Vogel’s Facebook post.
“I commented on her post and said, ‘If you need anything let me know,’” she said. “I want to help spread the joy and bring happiness to people who are having bad days.”
Upon Vogel's request, Martin filled a gift basket with her homemade body scrub, bath balms, soap, baked bath salts, lip balm and shower steamers, offering it at a discounted price for an individual identified as needing support through Share the Joy Foothills.
While Martin has been struggling to make ends meet in light of social distancing and mass gathering restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, she said it’s important to continue giving back to the community.
“Small businesses in these communities are very much carried by locals supporting us and it’s the people that are down the street that are keeping my business running,” she said. “I might not make the profits that I want to or I might lose a little bit right now, but I was born and raised in Turner Valley and I very much so want to support the people in the community. If I can do something that might not be productive for my company, but helps the community, that’s what I want to do.”
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