Giving Back This Holiday Season: Supporting Small Businesses and Strengthening Our Communities
As the holiday season unfolds, many of us find ourselves pausing between the busy days, long to-do lists, and the challenges the world continues to bring, to reflect on what truly matters. Gratitude becomes more than a seasonal sentiment, it becomes an anchor.
At Centinel, gratitude shows up in many forms: in the resilience of the small businesses we serve, in the trust of our community partners, and in the everyday acts of kindness that keep neighborhoods strong.
Celebrating Small Businesses This Season
Across the country, local restaurants, corner shops, small farms, and family-run service providers show up for their communities day after day. They bring comfort, convenience, culture, connection, and jobs. They sponsor little league teams, donate food when neighbors are in need, and keep local economies alive.
During the holiday season, one of the most important times of year for many businesses, we want to shine an extra spotlight on them.
Small businesses continue to face real challenges: rising costs, labor shortages, and an increasingly unstable power grid that disrupts operations and threatens hard-earned revenue. Yet they keep going. They adapt. They innovate. And they continue to serve.
We are especially grateful for the small business owners who work late nights, early mornings, and holidays to create something meaningful for their communities. Their resilience inspires us.
A Season of Giving Back
The holidays remind us that giving can take countless forms:
Support local by choosing small businesses for your holiday meals, shopping, and services.
Leave a positive review — a few kind words can go a long way.
Share their stories on social media and help spread the word.
Offer kindness to workers who are often under pressure during the holiday rush.
And if you can, consider giving time or resources to organizations supporting families and individuals facing hardship this season. A warm meal, a donated jacket, or a simple check-in can make a greater impact than you might realize.
Remembering Those Facing Challenges
While the holiday season brings warmth and celebration for many, it can be a difficult time for others. Economic hardships, food insecurity, housing instability, and disaster-related setbacks continue to affect families across the country.
As we gather with loved ones, it’s important to hold space for those who may not have that stability. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply being more mindful of our neighbors’ needs, we can uplift our communities in meaningful ways.
Why We’re Committed to Helping
At Centinel, we believe that protecting small businesses is a form of giving back. When a business survives an outage or recovers from an unexpected loss, an entire community benefits. Jobs stay secure. Access to essential goods and services remains reliable. Local economies stay strong.
Our mission has always been rooted in resilience, and resilience grows when communities care for each other.
A Grateful Note From Us
This holiday season, we’re grateful for:
The small businesses that define our communities
The customers and partners who trust us
The community members who show compassion and generosity
The opportunity to make a positive impact, even in a challenging world
From all of us at Centinel: thank you for being part of our community, and for supporting the small businesses that make each neighborhood unique.
May this season bring warmth, gratitude, and connection, and inspire us all to give back in ways that truly make a difference.
A Final Word on Resilience
As we move into the winter months, we’re reminded of how vulnerable small businesses can be to unexpected disruptions, especially power outages. That’s why we created PowerProtect™, our outage protection plan designed to help small businesses stay resilient when the grid fails.
PowerProtect gives business owners a financial cushion when they need it most, helping them recover quickly, protect their revenue, and continue serving their communities without missing a beat.
Because supporting small businesses isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we’re committed to doing every single day.
