Let’s Come Together to Help Our Neighborhood Businesses

I started Ring with the mission to help make neighborhoods safer and better places for all of us to live. The team and I have always been driven by the belief that neighborhoods are safer when communities come together to support one another, especially through challenging times.

In an important effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, necessary social distancing and sheltering-in-place have changed our daily routines, preventing us from supporting our neighborhood businesses and service providers.

I have always said Ring is not just a doorbell or home security company. It is a company built around a mission that serves the community, which is why today I am proud to launch the latest and possibly most important effort in our company's history.

The Neighbor Pledge allows you to pledge your support, as an individual or as part of a group, to the neighborhood businesses or service providers in your community that you rely on. For example, if you normally visit a neighborhood cafe every morning and spend $3, with the pledge you would give them up to $90 a month until they reopen.

We hope by creating a place where those who have the ability to help can show their commitment to their neighborhood businesses and service providers, that together we start a global movement. When communities come together, incredible things can happen.

So I ask all of my family, friends, neighbors, customers, team members and anyone else in a position to assist to join the Neighbor Pledge.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Make Your Pledge: Pledge your support, as an individual or as part of a group, to a specific number of neighborhood businesses or service providers in your community that you rely on.

2. Share Your Pledge: Get the word out to your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors so they can pledge support as well. There is power in numbers, and when communities come together, the results are even stronger.

3. Act on Your Pledge: While we don’t process donations, we ask that when you make a pledge, you take steps to ensure the neighborhood business or service of your choosing receives your commitment. Neighborhood businesses come in all shapes and sizes: from food establishments, to mom and pop retail stores, local salons, gyms, dog walkers, cleaners, babysitters, and more. If you tend to frequent them regularly and are not now, chances are, they need your help.

Here are some ways to fulfill your promise:

Tip 1: Call or email your favorite neighborhood businesses to see how they would prefer to receive donations. Some neighborhood businesses or service providers may be able to receive payments through digital payments like Paypal, Venmo, or Square, while others may prefer cash or checks.

Tip 2: Visit the websites of your favorite neighborhood businesses - many are offering discounts or telling their customers how they can assist. Some may be offering services remotely or shipping merchandise to their customers.

Tip 3: Buy a gift card or pay in advance for services you may use in the future. If you use a service provider who won’t be needed or can’t provide that service right now — a dog walker, house cleaner, child care provider, a gardening service — consider paying them regardless or in advance.

Tip 4: If your favorite restaurant is still offering takeout or delivery, make a point to order from them and tip generously on food orders or deliveries.

Even if the businesses you reach out to don’t accept your pledge, your commitment to your community and willingness to step up is what the Neighbor Pledge is truly about.

Visit ring.com/pledge for more information - thank you for doing your part and for being a good neighbor.

Jamie Siminoff, Chief Inventor & Founder, Ring

Update: As of September 1, 2020 the Neighbor Pledge has been discontinued.

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