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NILES — As people across the country were sequestered to their homes last week, business owners were left to worry, “What does this mean for my business?”

Two Niles business owners, Cynthia Gallero and Michael Reed, quickly changed that question to, “how can my business help?”

Gallero, who owns Katharos Catering, found herself with an abundance of food after having to close her café and cancel many catering events.

“So of course, I played the pity party like, ‘what am I going to do as a small business, as an entrepreneur? What is this going to do to my business?’” Gallero said. “And then I realized I can do that, or I can help to make a difference.”

Gallero said she saw many organizations and schools working to provide for children, but worried about other high-risk populations who were not being served.

“I thought, ‘well, what about the elderly?’ What about the homeless?’” she said. “What are we doing for them?”

Gallero partnered with the city of Niles to find volunteers and other caterers and will begin preparing to cook meals in the Niles Entrepreneurial Culinary Incubator this weekend. The meals will be prepped and delivered to seniors, who can microwave or bake the prepared dishes.

While the city is still working to find a safe way to deliver meals without spreading germs, Gallero will begin prepping meals early next week to be ready to serve in the following weeks.

“My goal is to start doing all the cooking and prepping and getting the food frozen, and as soon as people have need, we’ll be ready,” Gallero said. “So we don’t have to be reactive. We can be proactive.”

As details are worked out, Gallero and the city welcome input and helping hands.

“Anyone that wants to help, just reach the city and let them know that they want to volunteer,” Gallero said.

Just blocks away, Custom Computer Company and nonprofit Custom Community Center owner Michael Reed felt called to give as well.

When the computer repair company and community center was destroyed in the flood of the St. Joseph River in 2018, Reed said the Niles community rallied to support him and his business, either by offering physical labor and supplies to rebuild, or by requesting IT services in order to get his business going again.

“We had plenty to get back on our feet, and plenty of support,” Reed said. “We want to support the community that supported us.”

Since the business was established, CCC has offered a free community center and gaming lounge where people can gather to play games in a safe space. The center is funded by the business’ IT services.

For the past six months, CCC has provided meals to residents of Niles’ High-Rise apartments. In response to the COVID-19 social distancing mandate, the business is utilizing its community center at 603 N. Second St., Niles, as a pickup spot for anyone in need.

“A lot of bread and baked goods and a lot of gourmet shrimp meals and macaroni and cheese,” Reed said of the contents, which are regularly donated by a local department store chain that wishes to remain anonymous. “We don’t really have canned goods. There’s not a spot to drop off food. That’s what food banks are for. It’s just good food that we can get to whoever needs it.”

Reed said business has slowed amidst the social distancing order, as many of his customers are either working from home or short on funds to pay for the services after being forced to close.

“Luckily a handful of them are realizing that they have to be closed during this time so it’s a great time to do renovations and upgrades, but the ones that can’t do that right now, there’s not going to be any service calls right now.”

Reed said CCC has two sponsors, Honor Credit Union and Front Street Pizza Pub, which enable the business and nonprofit to be able to keep the food donations coming, even when the supplier is out of stock. The rest is funded by Custom Computer Company.

Food pickup is available at the community center throughout the business week, as food is available.

Though the total impact of their businesses is uncertain, Reed and Gallero both agreed that now is the time for the community to come together.

“The compassion has to be out of love. We can play the pity party or we can help others,” Gallero said. “There is nothing I can do about my business right now, but I can make a difference.”