Foodie News: New ways to help hospitality workers

RALEIGH, N.C. — Things can certainly change a lot in a week. No truer words have ever been spoken, especially in the middle of what we are in. No fluff this week, let's get straight to how you can help:

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) just launched the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, a state-wide resource to provide fast access to cash grants for North Carolina restaurant and hotel workers immediately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort will consolidate funds collected through the Triangle Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. Tens of thousands of restaurant and hotel employees are now facing significant financial hardships as businesses curtail services in efforts to encourage social distancing and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Donate here if you can!

Order takeout! You love their food - just swing by and pick it up! Most restaurants allow you to order and pay online or pay over the phone with a CC and be in and out in a jiffy. "No Contact" deliveries is the new norm. Most have designated parking just for this. Don't forget to tip!!

WRAL has a tremendous Triangle-wide list going. Check it out here.

In Chapel Hill/Carrboro, the most comprehensive list is offered here and compiled by the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.

In Durham, Discover Durham has a fantastic list here.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has a great downtown Raleigh list here.

And over in Hillsborough, here is a great list compiled by the Town of Hillsborough.

And if you are down in Chatham County, the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau has an updated list here.

And finally, because this is such a fast moving and changing environment, please follow your favorite local restaurants on their social media platforms.

Buy gift cards that you can use later! Help them over the short-term hump. This is not the perfect solution, but cash (flow) is king right now. Buy the gift cards now, they get to enjoy the "cash advance" during this difficult time, and then after we get beyond this, you get to enjoy a fabulous meal (or two, or three)! A win, win!

Even better, go ahead and get ALL your holiday shopping done NOW! Who doesn't love a restaurant gift card as a gift? That's a win, win, win! For many restaurants, you can do this online - even better!

And don't forget beer! Triangle on the Cheap has compiled a list of 32+ breweries that are offering curbside pick-up or delivery options across the Triangle. Check that list out here.

Here are some people/groups facing adversity and tackling it head-on with some incredible creativity. If you know of others, please email me at sean@TriangleFoodGuy.com so that we can highlight them next week.

The North Carolina Healthcare Association is partnering with locally owned restaurants in communities across the state to provide meals to healthcare heroes who are on the front lines of caring for patients and communities in this pandemic. This effort will both nourish the bodies and souls of physicians, nurses and other healthcare heroes and boost local economies during a time of acute need. They will initially focus on communities where the virus is hitting hardest, activating the program in other communities across the state as community interest and resources allow. Donate here.

This is an initiative spearheaded by G. Patel and other friends in the hospitality industry to provide free meals for Raleigh area hospitality workers during the tough times brought by COVID-19. Each weekday, workers in the industry will be able to receive a free meal from one of the participating partners. If you'd like to donate to this initiative, click here. If you are a hospitality worker, follow this link to get a free meal each week day.

Feed the Fight Chapel Hill is a community fundraiser providing fresh meals from local restaurants to UNC healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 on the front lines. Their initial goal is to raise $12,000 to provide UNC's emergency department staff with 15 meals over the next 30 days. Visit their Go Fund Me page to donate. Visit their Go Fund Me page to donate.

Are you part of a brewery run club and had a race/ races canceled? Well, here’s a way to race and support local breweries. Register to run a 5K or a 19K - which you’ll complete safely, on your own time, using proper physical distancing - and the proceeds of your $20 registration will benefit N.C. craft breweries. Register here.

The first Carrboro United initiative, the Local Food Hub, launched on March 21 with Acme Food & Beverage and the local business community. It is a central food hub created to efficiently and safely feed Carrboro/Chapel Hill’s citizens for the duration of the pandemic. The Carrboro United Local Food Hub has hired more than 20 employees at a living wage and served over 11,200 family meals in its first four Hub Days. This has resulted in a direct injection of $102,000 to local restaurants and $47,000 to local farmers. Participating vendors include GlassHalfull, Acme, Carrboro Coffee Roasters, Firsthand Foods, Sweet Little Patissiere and many more. Find out more here.

Love and Nourish 2020 - buy a Family Pack (feeds 4 + leftovers!) for $60, and $10 goes back to help provide meals to families in need identified by with Families Moving Forward, Durham Public School Foundation, Sunday Supper Durham and End Hunger Durham. Visit the Love and Nourish website here.

Chris Duke and his Anna's Gourmet Goodies are taking their Free Cookie Friday concept this week to Milton’s Pizza & Pasta locations in Raleigh and Wake Forest. The first 50 patrons who order take-out today for lunch will get a free chocolate chip cookie. I will be at the Raleigh location and would love to see you (from 6 ft. away!) See you today at: Milton's Pizza & Pasta - 14520 New Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27614 & 8853 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.

Thanks so much to all. Be smart, vigilant, compassionate and calm - we will get through this. Together.

Be safe,

Also, don't forget the great work of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the people they serve during this time. The Food Bank is assessing what their agencies and the people they support will need, and working to keep their partner agencies (the pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters who serve people) stocked with food and supplies. We are also taking extra precautions around food safety and hygiene. Consider an online donation today!