coronavirus

Relief for Out-of-Work Hospitality Employees

October 22, 2020
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Meals for healthcare workers from The Sacred Space (story below)
Meals for healthcare workers from The Sacred Space (story below)

Want to help the many restaurant and bar workers suddenly out of work as a result of COVID-19 closings? Want to lend a hand? These sites are all raising money specifically to help those in need in the hospitality industry. For food distribution, see Food Giveaways for Those in Need.

Axis Helps

South Florida restaurant and hospitality workers and small businesses can check this site, which lists ongoing efforts to help those whose livelihoods are affected by the pandemic. More here.

Funds for Hospitality Industry Employees

Miami Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

F+B Hospitality Brokerage, led by Felix Bendersky, has teamed up with chef Soraya Kilgore for this GoFundMe initiative that will give workers a mini-grant of $250.
More here.

Hands for Hospitality in Fort Lauderdale

Money raised will help hourly employees who are now unemployed or furloughed.
Details here.

SOBEWFF & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund

Independently owned and operated restaurants and bars in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties that have participated in SOBEWFF within the past five years are eligible to apply for relief money. Each approved restaurant or bar will receive $500 per employee, with a maximum grant of $15,000 in total (up to 30 employees). Restaurant and bar owners apply for the grants and it's their responsibility to distribute them to their employees. Update: This fund has raised more than $1,421,000 to date for local restaurants and bars.
More here.

James Beard Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund

This national effort is looking for support from corporate, foundation and individual donors to provide micro-grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need.
Donate here.

Bartender Emergency Assistance Program

This fund will help workers in the extended beverage industry community.
Donate here.

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

Operated by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, this fund will provide grants to restaurant industry employees who have been impacted by COVID-19, including a decrease in wages or loss of employment.
Donate here.

Be the Rescue: COVID-19 Response Fund by Food Rescue US

Donations will fund Community Kitchens, staffed by food service personnel who would prepare meals that would be delivered by Food Rescue US volunteers to people in need, and partnering with community businesses who are raising money to buy food from local restaurants to deliver to local social service agencies. Donate here.


Funds for Feeding People in Need

America's Food Fund

Miami is on the list of cities being served by the initiative, launched by Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs and Apple, along with the Ford Foundation to help ensure that all people have reliable access to food, working with chef and humanitarian José Andrés' World Central Kitchen and Feeding America, WCK began its COVID-19 relief efforts by distributing fresh meals to cruise-ship passengers under quarantine, and has since expanded its mission to feed vulnerable communities through mobile distributions, restaurant partners, and others. They are working at Red Rooster Overtown. These funds will help World Central Kitchen continue to expand and feed more people.
America's Food Fund


Restaurants, Groups Raising Money to Help Out-of-Work Employees

The Hungry Post

Through their #FeedTheChain campaign to help keep the South Florida restaurant industry alive during the COVID-19 crisis, the Hungry Post wants to raise money that will go to restaurant partners. For every $10 raised, one meal will be prepared, one restaurant employee will be tipped and one meal will be delivered to someone in need.⁣ “We feel strongly that if we can help restaurants stay operational, we're also helping the suppliers, delivery drivers, distributors, wholesalers, purveyors, farmers and more stay afloat,” organizers say. They’re looking for both donations and restaurant partners.
The Hungry Post

ALL DAY Away Grocery Relief Fund

Downtown Miami cafe ALL DAY is selling Florida eggs, grass-fed milk, Proper bacon, Zak the Baker baked goods, butter, their house blend cold brew and locally sourced produce. 100 percent of their profits in this program feed out-of-work food and beverage employees. They are also accepting donations directly to the grocery fund through Venmo, @alldaymia.
ALL DAY.


Workers at Red Rooster Overtown
Workers at Red Rooster Overtown Photo: Red Rooster

Food Distribution Fundraisers for Hospital Workers, First Responders

For anyone in need of food, these services are available. Check websites for distribution schedules. Fundraisers are also seeking donations to provide food for hospital workers.

Plant-based Immunity Meals for Hospital Workers

The Sacred Space is mobilizing teams at Plant Miami and Paradise Farms to deliver farm-harvested meals to healthcare workers. A fundraising campaign, launched through GoFundMe, is utilizing 100 percent of proceeds to fund meal creation and expand delivery coordination throughout hospitals across South Florida. 
Plant-based Foods for Hospital Workers

Kiwanis Club of Little Havana Helps JMH

More than 250 doctors and nurses from Jackson Memorial Hospital received free lunches from Versailles April 16 thanks to volunteer members of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and its Foundation. “If other organizations such as ours and private sector groups join this initiative, we will not only help these frontline professionals, but we will also support local hospitality businesses with the purchase of food,” says Tony Lorenzo, chairman of the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation.

Miami Community Restaurant Project

This GoFundMe buys food from local restaurants to donate it to hospital workers.
Miami Community Restaurant Project


Food Giveaway Fundraisers for the Community

To find out about specific food giveaways, see Food Giveaways for Those in Need at right.

Adopt-a-Box

This project from Redland Ahead, Taste of Redland and Unity Groves, buys food from local farmers and creates food boxes to give away to those in need. Details here.

Feeding South Florida

This organization distributes food regularly in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and also does one-time food giveaways. Donate here.
Feeding South Florida

Health in the Hood

Through their Filling Fridges program, they will provide fresh food to 500 families a week, providing $100 grocery gift cards and distributing 7,000 prepared meals. For information on how to help, connect us with a group in need, or volunteer please email Asha Walker

Farm Share Distribution

Free drive-through food distribution for families in need. Bring a large canvas bag or box. Follow here for upcoming dates and locations. Drive-up only; no walk-ins.


Funds for Businesses

Little Haiti Small Business Relief Fund

This fund, launched by Metro 1, will support qualifying locally owned businesses in Little Haiti by providing micro-grants, education and business mentorship on how to navigate the federal funding available to them through the SBA and additional sources. Backed by a $33,000 initial seed investment by Metro 1 Community, the initiative will be executed in partnership with non-profit and business organizations, including the Miami Foundation, The United Way of Miami-Dade, The Black Professionals Network, Branches, and SantLa.
Little Haiti Small Business Relief Fund

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