Jonathan Alves, vice president of the Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association (B/FSNA), was having dinner at The Elephant Walk when he and owner Richard Pile started talking.

“Restaurants in the city and everywhere have been particularly hard hit,” Alves said of the past year. “We were trying to think of ways we could support restaurants and also local businesses, to multiply local dollars that are spent.”

The two came up with an idea that has now become Buy-a-Bite, a pilot program sponsored by B/FSNA and organized in partnership with the South End Business Alliance (SEBA).

Started in early April, the program distributed $5,000 worth of South End restaurant gift cards amongst 10 local retailers, who are handing them out to customers as they see fit.

“It’s a local way to keep the neighborhood and the businesses connected,” Pile said.

Participating businesses include SAULT Restaurants include Elephant Walk, El Centro, Orinoco Kitchen, Anoush’ella and Estragon.

"The South End is a tight-knit neighborhood where the well-being of the community at large is so important to us and every business here,” said Courtney Fee, creative marketing manager at Lekker Home.

“SEBA's Buy-a-Bite program gave us a chance to come together and support some of our restaurant neighbors during this challenging time.”

For Astrid Motsenigos, owner of CouCou, the restaurant gift cards are a way to show appreciation for her customers, “who have bent over backwards to support local businesses.”

“We’re incredibly lucky to be in this neighborhood,” Motsenigos said. “I’ve always known it but have never known it more than when Covid started.”

SEBA has been an anchor for Motsenigos, from helping her apply for PPP loans, to answering questions and circulating grant opportunities. SEBA’s guidance is “never ending,” Motsenigos New England, CouCou, Barre3, Lekker, said. “I would have had no idea what to do Tweed, Soma Optical, MFLYNN, Urban without them.”

Hounds and Honey and Comb.

“Right now, small businesses have a lot of hurdles to cover,” Elizabeth Beutel said. Beutel is President of SEBA and Director of Sales and Marketing at AC Hotel.

“This is a great reminder that even though things are re-opening and people are getting vaccinated,” Motsenigos added, “businesses are still struggling from what they’ve had to carry over the year and it’s going to take a long time to make up the losses.”

So far Buy-a-Bite has lent a significant helping hand. The program has generated $42,000 in revenue for participating businesses. If additional sponsors are found, Buy-a-Bite may be expanded in the future.

Another chance to support South End businesses and neighborhood associations is coming up on May 14-16, with SEBA’s Spring Stroll.

The event will feature both members and non-members of SEBA. Beutel and Alves are hopeful that Buy-a-Bite can serve as a model for other neighborhoods and even the City of Boston to help bolster local businesses.

“We love our retailers. We love our restaurants,” Alves said. “I’m really optimistic that we’re going to continue to see good results from this program.”