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With virtually the whole western world either on lockdown or about to impose one, the restaurant industry is facing its biggest challenge yet.
These are unprecedented times and the face of the service industry will be completely changed by the time this situation is resolved. Millions of restaurant workers are facing a loss of work and restaurants already facing challenges may struggle to remain open. It’s not all grim news though, there are already a number of relief programs for those in the industry, here’s a round-up of some of them.
Rethink Food NYC announced a restaurant response program wherein it will provide a $40,000 grant for 30 NYC-based restaurants at risk of closing operations due to the coronavirus outbreak. The programme has already granted Simone Tong $40k to operate a community kitchen out of the former Little Tong Noodle Shop East Village space.
The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation
The Restaurant Worker’s Community Foundation has formed a COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund for restaurant workers as well as create a creating a list of resources for restaurant workers. It will also aggregate data from the industry for an overview of the effects on the industry.
The Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
The USBG National Charity Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the stability and wellbeing of service industry professionals has opened its programme for applications for assistance. Bartenders or spouse or child of bartenders can apply.
A program open to all restaurants the Dining Bond Initiative works like a government-issued war bond. Basically a voucher for a restaurant sold at a 25% discount. Restaurants can choose how and within what timeframe bonds are to be redeemed.
Chef Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke foundation is accepting applications from restaurants and restaurant workers for aid after the closure of establishments across the state of Texas.
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation
The RWCF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund has been set up to provide support to restaurant workers and zero-interest loans to businesses.
The One Fair Wage organisation, which advocates on behalf of sub-minimum wage tipped workers is raising $213,000 to provide cash assistance to restaurant employees, delivery workers, and other tipped workers in the food industry.
A GoFundMe page raising money to keep food industry workers in Charlottesville, Virginia with the goal of reaching $10,000.
A service workers-led initiative to raise funds on Venmo for restaurant workers and to deliver food and supplies to those in need during the crisis.
Using funds from their Pass The Hat Campaign, Giving Kitchen is supporting restaurant workers during the pandemic.
Set up by Seattle hospitality workers, the GoFundMe page aims to raise $100,000 in aid of vulnerable groups of workers during the crisis.
Saint Louis Hospitality Staff Members
Bob Brazell, chef and owner of several St. Louis restaurants, has launched a GoFundMe for hospitality workers in the city
