RWCF’s Crisis Relief Fund was launched on March 15, 2020—on the eve of nationwide COVID-19 shut-downs.
Within days, thousands of American restaurants closed and millions of workers, many of whom lived paycheck to paycheck, lost their jobs. But our community rallied and expanded exponentially, and RWCF raised more than $7 million in worker relief.
Now that the worst of COVID-19 is behind us, we have pivoted the fund to helping restaurant workers who experience life-altering and financially devastating events.
Working with partners, including Southern Smoke Foundation and Giving Kitchen, RWCF remains committed to supporting workers in crisis. Additionally, the fund has the flexibility to help out after natural disasters and assist workers in accessing rental assistance, mental health and substance abuse services, legal aid and other emergency resources.
The new Crisis Relief Fund will build on the work of RWCF’s COVID-19 efforts in which we:
Provided
$4.1M
Provided $4.1M in direct worker assistance through
our partner Southern Smoke Foundation.
Granted
$2.4M
Granted $2.4M to nonprofits aiding workers in crisis,
building a community of like-minded organizations.
Loaned $1.575M
Launched a zero-interest loan program for independent restaurants,
which, to date, has loaned $1.575 M to TK worker-forward businesses.