Help for Houston Hospitality Workers Impacted by Coronavirus Crisis — Updated 5/29

With bars and restaurant dining rooms closed statewide to help fight the spread of coronavirus, many bar, restaurant and hotel employees in the Houston-area are out of work or working reduced hours.

Here is a list of resources for impacted hospitality employees and small business owners for financial assistance, food and mental health services.

If you are a consumer who would like to help, there are links to donation pages at the end of each relevant entry. In addition, you can read our article about other ways to help.

If you know of a business or organization offering assistance to Houston-area hospitality professionals, please email us.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

For restaurant and bar employees:

For restaurant and bar owners:



FOOD AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES

Houston Shift Meal: This relief effort is spearheaded by the same team that helmed Midtown Kitchen Collective, which organized significant Harvey relief. This new organization is partnering with sponsors and restaurants to offer free meals to hospitality employees whose jobs have been affected by coronavirus-related restrictions . Affected employees can visit the Houston Shift Meal FaceBook page , search the Events tab for upcoming opportunities to receive free meals, and then register. Registration does not guarantee a free meal, since these are first-come, first-served, but it does give the restaurant an idea of how many meals to make. Individuals receiving meals should be prepared to show a recent pay stub, an employee badge or other proof of employment when picking up their free meal. However, enforcement is at the discretion of the participating restaurants. To donate, visit here .

This relief effort is spearheaded by the same team that helmed Midtown Kitchen Collective, which organized significant Harvey relief. This new organization is partnering with sponsors and restaurants to . Affected employees can visit the , search the Events tab for upcoming opportunities to receive free meals, and then register. Registration does not guarantee a free meal, since these are first-come, first-served, but it does give the restaurant an idea of how many meals to make. Individuals receiving meals should be prepared to show a recent pay stub, an employee badge or other proof of employment when picking up their free meal. However, enforcement is at the discretion of the participating restaurants. To donate, . Pour Neighbors is a private FaceBook group that is connecting Houston-area food and beverage professionals with restaurants and other establishments offering free and discounted food.

Restaurant Workers Relief Program: Riel , in partnership with Maker’s Mark and The Lee Initiative, has launched the Restaurant Workers Relief Program. Hospitality professionals whose jobs have been impacted by coronavirus can stop by Riel at 1927 Fairview between 4 and 6 p.m. daily for free food and essential supplies .

, in partnership with Maker’s Mark and The Lee Initiative, has launched the Restaurant Workers Relief Program. Hospitality professionals whose jobs have been impacted by coronavirus can stop by Riel at 1927 Fairview between 4 and 6 p.m. daily for . Second Servings is launching Dinner’s On Us with the support of Hess Corporation and Sysco. Every Tuesday and Thursday, starting Thursday, April 9, from 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., they will distribute meals (while supplies last) to unemployed hospitality workers via a contact-free drive-thru at 702 Avenida De Las Americas. To pick up meals, “hospitality workers must present a recent pay stub displaying the name of their restaurant, hotel, caterer, banquet venue, sports venue or convention center employer.” Added 12:03 p.m., 4/7/2020.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

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