The Wooden Nickel and the Hillsborough and Orange County Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to raise money for service workers who have lost their jobs and income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Many service industry employees lost their only source of income after Governor Cooper issued an executive order to close dine-in services for bars and restaurants. Even more people were put out of work when a county-wide stay-at-home order was enacted, effectively closing all ‘non-essential’ businesses.

To help aid those in need, this community partnership has created two campaigns to “build the biggest tip jar.”

The first campaign is hosted by The Wooden Nickel and allows you to tip your server directly through Venmo. Direct a virtual ‘tip’ to any service worker on the list, via their individual Venmo account. You can find the individual Venmo account numbers here.

The second campaign is hosted by the Hillsborough and Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

The Hillsborough Hospitality Help Go Fund Me campaign (HHH) allows businesses and individuals to donate into a general fund. Funds raised here will be disbursed to all displaced employees of Hillsborough based businesses who are registered with either Hillsborough Strong or who are referred to the chamber by their local employer.

A challenge has been issued by Dr. Andrew Canada of Global Rx to all local businesses to donate to the HHH Go Fund Me account. Dr. Canada will match up to $5,000 in donations from businesses. To contribute to this fund, click here.

For those who do not wish to contribute online, please mail your check to 200 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, NC 27278, with #3H indicated in the memo and payable to Hillsborough/Orange Co. Chamber of Commerce.

All service employees who have been displaced because of COVID-19, and who work for Hillsborough based businesses, are encouraged to apply for tips.

Dean James from the Wooden Nickel said the aim of these two campaigns is to direct immediate funds into the hands of those who need them most.

“The best thing about Hillsborough, far and away, is our awesome and supportive community,” James said. “Right now, a large segment of that community has lost their primary means of supporting themselves and their families. Let’s rally together, in the spirit of our town, to help them.”

(Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough Hospitality Help fundraiser)