Million Gallons
Photo by Enormous Creative
Chefs are a resilient bunch, and they do take care of their own. Despite the hardships they face with the shutdown of sit-down dining, they are first and foremost thinking of the many restaurant industry workers that have been laid off.
Depending on how long the health crisis lasts, more layoffs are likely as many restaurants don’t have months of capital to stay afloat. Following are various sites, the bulk of which were started by chefs and others in the food service industry, that aim to help feed food insecure individuals, especially those that were working in restaurants. There will be the other side of the pandemic, but until then there are many that need support for their next meal.
On the Line: This non-profit has out-of-work food industry folks cook for those food-insecure communities where people can’t afford to stay home and/or can’t afford to eat. Founded in part by Saint George Bistro (Hastings-on-Hudson), Harper’s Restaurant (Dobbs Ferry), and Michelle Adams Events (Nyack), donations can be made here: www.gofundme.com/f/on-the-line.
Million Gallons: County chefs and restaurateurs, led by Eric Korn, executive chef at Monteverde at Oldstone in Cortlandt Manor, and Louie Lanza, head of Peekskill-based Hudson Hospitality Group, started the nonprofit Million Gallons, which prepares and distributes soup to feed restaurant workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. Korn asks that people cook soup and post pictures on social media using the hashtag #MillionGallons and tagging @MillionGallons, and to make a $10 donation via the Million Gallons website.
RestaurantRelief.net: Mount Kisco-based website designer Laura Kelly started this site where patrons can buy digital gift cards now for use when the restaurants reopen. As of this blog’s writing, 39 eateries in 12 northern Westchester towns are listed.
Cookery Restaurant Family Relief Fund: The majority of the 75 employees at The Cookery, Eugene’s Diner, and The Parlor were let go due to the COVID-19 related shutdowns. All of the money donated goes directly to the staffers.
Jean-Georges Restaurants Employee Relief Fund: More than 1,000 cooks, bartenders, servers, porters, managers, and chefs work at the many New York-based Jean-Georges restaurants, including Inn at Pound Ridge. All of the money donated goes directly to the staffers.
