GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Today, March 24, a grassroots effort called The Great American Takeout is underway nationally to support the restaurant industry that has been greatly impacted by the spread of coronavirus Covid-19.

We know the devastating blow to restaurants first hand here in Michigan where the Governor just ordered a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” mandate for residents to “shelter in place” for the next three weeks.

However, people are still allowed to get groceries, and to order meals such as takeout and delivery from their favorite restaurants.

At Michigan’s Best, we know how important it is to support the industry. For years we have traveled the state of Michigan, eating and drinking at hundreds of the state’s best restaurants and breweries, and sharing those stories with you.

And now, they need us.

Michigan’s Best reporter Amy Sherman said the current state has become “completely personal for our Michigan’s Best team.”

“These people have become part of our family,” she said. "These restaurants, the families that own them, and the dedicated staffs that run them, need our help. These are unprecedented times that are changing by the hour. The very least we can do is to order a meal from our favorite spots, to give them a little bit more support while we can.

“We can also please share these businesses stories, hours, and menus, and encourage people to order take-out when they can.”

That’s why we’re excited for today’s The Great American Takeout (Tuesday, March 24). #TheGreatAmericanTakeOut.

Americans are encouraged to order at least one meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

If you participate -- and we mean “if," because we understand why many of you just want to stay home -- please share your photos and videos with us.

Go to our Michigan’s Best Facebook page and post away.

facebook.com/MLiveMIBest

In the last week we have been posting photos and videos of life “off the road,” which is not normal for us.

Please tag #mibest and #TheGreatAmericanTakeout on Social Media.

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.

Or you can send us photos and video via email:

gonzo@mlive.com

asherma2@mlive.com

Remember: If you are sending us your photos or videos, please make sure that you are the one who took it, and understand that posting it here will give MLive permission to use it as courtesy art online, in print, and to share it on our social media pages.

Learn more at thegreatamericantakeout.com.

As for where to go in Michigan on Tuesday, here are some lists we put together from our recent Michigan’s Best Burger search. These are burger joints that were offering take out last week. Please make sure to check if they are still open this week.

The Best Burger Takeout List

10 great burgers to enjoy while enduring the coronavirus outbreak in Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula

A look at Lansing’s Top 10 take-out burgers

Tasty take-out from some of Michigan’s Best Burger spots in the U.P.

Time for take-out Ann Arbor! 8 of Michigan’s Best Burgers to try

12 great burgers for take-out in the Jackson area

10 great burgers in Grand Rapids to pick up while enduring the coronavirus outbreak

Where you can still get some of Michigan’s Best Burgers in Flint

Some of Michigan’s Best Burgers in Muskegon and the lakeshore are available for take-out

It’s Take-Out time! 11 burgers not to miss in the Kalamazoo area

90-plus burgers you can enjoy in Michigan right now

Travel professionals across the country are getting on board with The Great American Takeout. They want local restaurants to survive for the day Americans get back on the road.

“The #TheGreatAmericanTakeout is the perfect opportunity to show our local restaurants how much we support and value them. The COVID-19 crisis is affecting every sector of our hospitality industry and impacting more than 9,000 people who work in our local hospitality community. It’s going to take our whole community coming together to ensure that our locally-owned, unique restaurants are here to stay,” said Mary Kerr, president and CEO of Destination Ann Arbor.