The COVID-19 outbreak is wreaking havoc on so many aspects of our economy both nationally and abroad. But one area in which I am seeing a ray of hope is within the restaurant Industry. According to the National Restaurant Association it was anticipated, prior to the pandemic, restaurants nationwide would record $899 billion in sales and employ 15.6 million people in 2020. To bring these numbers a little closer to home, last year in Texas 10% of the state’s employment was in restaurant and food service with some 1,344,200 jobs. Further, every dollar spent at a sit-down restaurant contributed $2.02 to the Texas economy and every dollar spent at a limited service site, such as drive-thru business contributed $1.77 to the Texas economy - nothing to sneeze at.
Given the significance of the restaurant industry to Texas and America’s economies and given the vast majority of jobs within the industry are filled by hourly workers, I am heartened to see philanthropy and innovation intersect in a way to help restaurant workers survive the downturn and to feed others in our communities who are struggling.
This past week I have been collecting examples of what I am calling “philanthropy in motion.” See what you think. Is there a place where you own giving might intersect?
Cafe Momentum E.A.T.s was launched at the same time Dallas began recognizing the impact of COVID-19 in North Texas. Cafe Momentum transformed its restaurant space into a temporary food hub and their interns began putting together meal packs for low-income families. The idea is to build 1,000 kits a week with each kit providing four dinners for a family of four. The effort is supported by the Get Shift Done Fund at the Communities Foundation of Texas. Dollars from this fund pay the interns while Cafe Momentum is seeking donations to to cover food and other costs.
Get Shift Done connects hospitality workers with nonprofits providing hunger relief throughout North Texas including food banks, pantries, and Momentum E.A.T.s. Donated dollars provide wages to hourly workers to fill shifts at $10/hour. Further, the Get Shift Done team is leveraging the Shiftsmart platform to onboard, train, schedule, dispatch, route, and pay assigned workers. Here is a March 29 article in the Dallas Morning News on this work.
Former Dallas Cowboy, Travis Frederick is raising funds to feed families. Ensuring people have food is a cause he has been passionate about for years and is the reason he established the Blocking Out Hunger Foundation. Through the foundation, funds are being raised to provide food to families in low-income neighborhoods during this crisis.
The Furlough Kitchen opened March 25. It is run by Front Burner Group Dining in collaboration with CitySquare and is providing a free meal daily to anyone in the hospitality industry who has been furloughed.
Pecan Lodge is remembering its roots and struggles during the 2008 recession by establishing the Dinner Bell as a nonprofit with two purposes: 1. feed those working on the front lines of the pandemic including healthcare workers, first responders, and their families and 2. raise donations to provide bridge funding to independent, local restaurants so they can participate in Dinner Bell. These dollars are designed to keep qualifying restaurants afloat so they can pay staff and purchase supplies to create meals for Dinner Bell.
This March 25 article in the Dallas Observer offers other examples of philanthropy in motion within the restaurant industry including deferred rent for some restaurants and distributing free boxed meals to those directly impacted by the pandemic.
Let’s keep this positive response moving forward.