Workforce

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund helps more than 43,000 out-of-work employees

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s campaign garnered more than $21.5 million in aid.
Guy Fieri
Photo courtesy of National Restaurant Association

The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, which began in late March, is helping more than 43,000 restaurant workers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. 

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s four-month campaign, championed by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, garnered more than $21.5 million in financial aid for struggling restaurant workers.

The one-time grants have been distributed to workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Approximately 60% of recipients are between the ages of 21 and 35, and nearly 60% identify as female. Half identify as racial minorities.

The majority, 80%, reported that they had household incomes of less than $50,000 per year prior to the pandemic.

Many wrote to the Foundation to express their thanks, and their sentiments reveal not only the impact of the financial relief, but the community and resiliency of our industry.

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