COVID Outreach

Contactless Canvassing GUIDE

Canvassing Priority:

Your priority is to drop off the masks/PPE and safety signage in the packets we have provided you with. Each business gets one packet.

We have found that sometimes business owners are eager to speak about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you get the sense that a business owner would like to give you any input on their experiences, please ask them the questions in the “DISCUSSION WITH BUSINESS OWNER/MANAGER” section below.

First Contact By Phone:

[When you arrive at the business, call the business to introduce yourself and to let them know that you will be dropping off posters and PPE. Please do this from inside your car. Remember, this is contactless canvassing, so you should not need to enter the business to complete the canvass.]

Hi, my name is [YOUR FIRST NAME], and I am here canvassing for the Illinois Welcoming Center as a representative of Vera Creative, a marketing firm in Illinois. I am not selling anything. I’m here to help provide local businesses by delivering packages with masks/PPE and some safety signage.

May I speak with the owner or manager?

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If No:

Thank you very much for your time. I have a packet of PPE and safety signage that I would like to hang on your door. Is that alright?

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If yes, hang the packet on the business’s front door. If not, record and move on. Do not take any photos of the business.]

If Yes and the person on the phone is the owner or manager:

‍I’m going to drop the package at your door. It contains posters that show the Illinois Welcoming Center’s suggestions on how to do business more safely during the pandemic. Additionally, there are some masks for you, your employees, or customers to use, should you need them.

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If Yes and the owner or manager comes on the phone:

[Proceed to next section]‍

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Discussion With Business Owner/Manager By Phone:

Hi, my name is [YOUR FIRST NAME], and I am here canvassing for the Illinois Welcoming Center as a representative of Vera Creative, a marketing firm in Illinois. I am not selling anything. I’m here to help provide local businesses by delivering packages with masks/PPE and some safety signage.‍

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[If the person you are speaking to decides to start talking about their experiences during the pandemic, please use the following 3 questions to guide your conversation.]‍

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Discussion Topics/Questions (If Applicable):

• Has business changed for you as a result of the pandemic? I’m asking because businesses have both suffered and flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am interested in your experience.

• Do you think that your customers value safety precautions? Why or why not? How about your employees?‍

• What is one thing that you wish the State of Illinois would provide you with to help during the pandemic? What do you need?

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Thank you again for taking the time to give feedback.‍

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[ONLY If the business owner asks about confidentiality or if their name will be recorded]
‍Your responses will remain anonymous, and we’ll include your feedback in the weekly report that we will send to the Illinois Welcoming Center.

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Please restrict your discussion to these 3 topics. Do not add additional questions or provide information outside of what we have provided you. If you have additional observations or responses that you would like to tell us about, please record them in your Canvass Report.

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Thank And Deliver Package

[Make sure your lanyard is visible to convey that you are representing the Illinois Welcoming Center while you are delivering the package.]

‍Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me. ‍

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I’m going to drop the package I mentioned at your door. It contains posters that show the Illinois Welcoming Center’s suggestions on how to do business more safely during the pandemic. Additionally, here are some masks for you, your employees, or customers to use, should you need them.‍

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If asked a question about the material: If you need more information on this project, please go to coronavirus.illinois.gov

Leave the package in front of the door or on door handles, but NOT in the mailbox (which is illegal!).

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If Nobody Answers The Phone Or The Business Is Closed:

Leave the package in front of the door or on door handles, but NOT in the mailbox.‍

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If The People Inside The Business Can See You At The Door:

[Stay outside and speak to the people inside at the open door.]

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Hi, my name is [YOUR FIRST NAME], and I am here canvassing for the Illinois Welcoming Center as a representative of Vera Creative, a marketing firm in Illinois. I am not selling anything. I’m here to help provide local businesses by delivering packages with masks/PPE and some safety signage.

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May I speak with the owner or manager?

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If asked a question about the material:

If you need more information on this project, please go to www.coronavirus.illinois.gov‍

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Leave the package next to the front door (on the inside), or ask the person to pick it up from you.

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If Asked About Reporting/Anonymity:

We will be reporting the feedback that we get from business owners weekly. In this way, your responses will be relayed to the Illinois Welcoming Center and will help in making your opinions heard. Your name and the name of your business will not be used in any of this reporting.

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Requests To Opt Out Of Further Contact:

Thank you for letting me know that you do not want to be contacted by us in the future. Please remember that we don’t want to use your information in any way that you don’t want us to. I have taken you off our contact list and rest assured that you will not be contacted via Vera Creative in the future.

Canvasser’s Checklist

Before Canvassing:

Review documents in COVID-19 Outreach Contactless Canvassing Kit
Schedule day and time to pick up materials with Jackie Marshall
Pick up materials every Monday from Vera Creative 1400 N. Halsted

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While You Are Canvassing:

Always wear a mask and face shield! Please make sure you are protecting yourself and the people you are canvassing by wearing masks and keeping 6 feet away from others at all times.
Wear your lanyard, PPE and ID, and explain why you are there clearly.
Complete a business canvassing report for each business whether they are closed or open.
Take a minimum of 6 project-related photos which can include:

Signs and policies related to COVID-19 outside the business (see example attached to the end of this document)
Photos of other canvassers, outside of the business that you are canvassing. This is meant to show how contactless canvassing is done, so please remember - always wear masks and shields and maintain a 6 foot distance with other people.

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AFTER CANVASSING:

Schedule day and time to drop off materials with Jackie Marshall

Canvasser’s Dos + Don'ts ‍

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Do:

Follow the map that we give you to plan your route. If you see additional businesses on your way, please canvass those as well.
Place leave-behinds in front of the door or on door handles, but NOT in the mailbox (which is illegal!).
Conduct all discussions with the business owner or manager from your car. You shouldn’t need to enter the business.
Partner with another canvasser by canvassing the same block from separate cars - you can each take one side of the street, for example. If you are canvassing with someone from your household, you may travel together in the same car.
Use the guide provided, but bring your own voice to it. Please don’t add any new information to the script. If you are asked a question you can’t answer, give the respondent the following web address: coronavirus.illinois.gov. Tell them that they can get more information on the initiative there.
Remember that you are calling someone at their place of business and you’ll be asking for them to take time to interact with you. It’s important to introduce yourself as a canvasser working for Vera Creative who is contributing to an Illinois Welcoming Center initiative aimed at helping businesses through the pandemic.
Return the Canvass Report and materials to your Canvass Lead.
Be considerate: Remember that we are in phase 3 of the second wave of a pandemic that may have shut this business down in the last wave.
Keep it positive and respectful.

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Don’t:

Talk about your personal opinions or give advice to the people that you canvass.
Trespass. If you’re asked to leave the business that you intended to canvass, do so right away, without arguing.
Take photographs of an open business where the person you spoke to on the phone refused to take part in the canvassing.
Leave materials in the mailbox - it’s illegal.
Put yourself in harm's way. Safety first!
Go inside someone's home.
Ever go alone! Make sure that you are canvassing with at least one other person, and if you are carpooling, that person needs to be from your household.
Get discouraged. Even if you are turned away, please know that YOU are making a difference!

COVID 19 OUTREACH