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COVID-19

Ways to Support Restaurants and Their Teams

March 23, 2020

A running list of fundraisers by restaurants for their team members during the COVID-19/Coronavirus crisis

Nearly seven million Americans in the restaurant industry are vulnerable to a lapse in pay when they're sick or unable to work. That figure is worsened with a long-lasting health crisis such as the one currently unfolding around the world.

As COVID-19/Coronavirus continues to impact the restaurant industry and with no guarantee of governmental support, restaurants are turning to you for help. We’ve compiled a list of resources for you to help support the most integral aspect of your favorite restaurants — their teams. This is an evolving post and updated regularly. See something missing? Email us at marketing@getbento.com.

Resources to Advocate on Behalf of Restaurants

The James Beard Foundation has made an extensive guide with resources, even a list of governors by state with contact information. Now’s the time to make an impact on how restaurants will get governmental relief. Call up your representatives. Advocate for help!

Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants - Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants (ROAR) and Robin Hood are partnering with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to launch a New York City restaurant employee relief fund.

Gift Card Purchase Directories

Help Main Street Buy Restaurant Gift Cards Map- Drives 100% of gift card sales proceeds to small businesses in the U.S.

Rally for Restaurants - Purchase gift cards to your favorite restaurants to support them. If you own a restaurant and don’t see it listed, you are able to add it directly on the Rally for Restaurants website.

Restaurant Staff Support Funds

ATLA and Cosme Staff Support Fund - 100% of funds raised go directly to the team members of Cosme and ATLA to weather out the mandatory closures.

Banter Family Support - 100% of donations go to support the Banter staff during an indefinite closure period.

Banty Rooster Staff Relief Fund - All donations will be split among their 33 staff members to assist during this time.

Bar Goto Employee Fund - 100% of donations will be split between the front and back of house staff at their locations.

Basic Kitchen Family Fund - 100% of your donations go straight to our restaurant and all those who make it run.

Bubby's Employee Relief Fund - 100% of donations go to their employees.

Cervo's, Hart's & The Fly Fund - Provide monetary support for their staff of 50 across 3 beloved NYC restaurants. 100% of all donations go directly to their team.

Chez Ma Tante Employee Relief Fund - Donations will provide assistance to their staff.

Colonia Verde Workers Relief Fund - The Colonia Verde Team - 100% of all donations go directly to the team at Brooklyn’s Colonia Verde.

Death & Co. Staff Relief Fund - Donations of up to $10,000 will be matched by their largest investor to help aid their staff of 130 across 3 cities.

Di An Di Team Support - 100% of all donations will be distributed to team members that are in financial need or don’t qualify for assistance from the government.

Epicurean Family Support Fund - 100% of all donations will be distributed to the teams of L’Artusi and Anfora.

Grand Army Staff Support - Donations help support their staff during this indefinite closure period.

Gran Electrica Napa Employee Relief Fund - To support the Gran Electrica family, 100% of donations will go directly to their staff.

Grovehouse Family Fund - The group behind NYC’s Lilia, Misi and Misi Pasta launched a fund in which 100% of proceeds will go directly to the staff to help make up for part of their lost income.

Groceries for Workers of Happy Cooking Hospitality - The group behind NYC's Joseph Leonard, Jeffrey's Grocery, bar Sardine, Fedora, Fairfax, the Jones, Simon & the Whale and George Washington Bar are committed to providing their former employees and their families with a week's worth of groceries, every week, for as long as their doors remain shut to the public.

Matter House Fundraiser by Ignacio Mattos- Led by Ignacio Mattos, 100% of donations to this gofundme campaign goes to the team behind NYC’s Estela, Cafe Altro Paradiso and Flora Bar.

Oxalis Staff Relief Fund - 100% of the proceeds will go directly to hourly team members. For donations of a $200 value or more, the restaurant is offering a ticket to their reopening celebration.

Pitango Team Virtual Tip Jar - They'll distribute 100% of funds directly to Pitango’s hourly-staff in need during this time.

Pom Pom Staff Food Relief - Every dollar will be used to buy food and other critical supplies for members of our team.

Reunion Staff Relief Fund - This fund will help Reunion employees stay afloat during this uncertain time.

Seamore's Team Support Fund - All donations will go to support the Seamore's team during unemployment.

Sonny Boy Staff Support - Donations support the staff at Sonny Boy.

The Richardson Unemployed Team Fund - 100% of the proceeds from this fund will go directly to their unemployed team members.

The Meatball Shop Gift Cards - 25% of all gift cards will be set aside for hardest hit employees.

Tzuco Employee Relief Fund - For each $100 purchased in Tzuco gift cards, $20 will go directly to the Tzuco Employee Relief Fund.

USHG HUGS Employee Relief Fund - a nonprofit 501(c)(3) fund to support USHG team members who are facing unexpected and exceptional financial needs. The USHG HUGS employee relief fund offers grants to help cover essential life needs.

Photograph by Evan Sung Photography

Ways to Support Restaurants and Their Teams

Resources to Advocate on Behalf of Restaurants

Gift Card Purchase Directories

Restaurant Staff Support Funds

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