Ottawa Restaurant Fund
Donation protected
The pandemic has impacted businesses in every industry, with small businesses taking the brunt of the impact. No one is untouched by the COVID crisis, but the restaurant industry carries a uniquely heavy burden and this is your chance to help. If you are feeling powerless sitting on the sidelines as our local restaurants face yet another crisis, this is an easy way to make a big impact.
Not only are Ottawa restaurateurs at risk of losing their life's work they are also employers and purchasers, community members, philanthropists, and taxpayers. Restaurants have a long history of supporting charity initiatives, feeding the needy, and donating their resources when times are tough in the community. If managing the whiplash of sudden closures, staffing issues, and supply chain challenges weren't enough, now our restaurants are forced to decide between making ends meet, and keeping their staff safe as the occupation of the downtown core enters a second week with no signs of easing up.
The entire downtown core and Byward Market areas are in lockdown once more, except this time it isn’t health restrictions keeping doors closed. Residents are afraid to leave their homes, delivery services face extreme difficulty picking up orders, and clients who are willing to make the trek into the Red Zone find that the protest outside is quite literally ‘horning-in’ on the intimacy of sharing a meal at a restaurant with a loved one.
Restaurants have shown up for our community year after year, and it’s time to return the favour. It's time for action. Takeaway and meal kits can only go so far. Our restaurants need our support to weather this storm, and they need it now.
We've put together a team of connected folks to manage the distribution of this fund. The team includes a Chef, an event planner, a marketing genius, a food critic, a customer, and many others, to oversee the equitable distribution of all donated funds.
This fund will provide grants to restaurant owners in need, following a thorough vetting process. If the fund becomes as substantial as we're hoping, we're envisioning distributing grants based on demonstrated need and geographic proximity to the Red Zone. Our goal is to get as much money into restaurateur hands as quickly as possible.
Not only are Ottawa restaurateurs at risk of losing their life's work they are also employers and purchasers, community members, philanthropists, and taxpayers. Restaurants have a long history of supporting charity initiatives, feeding the needy, and donating their resources when times are tough in the community. If managing the whiplash of sudden closures, staffing issues, and supply chain challenges weren't enough, now our restaurants are forced to decide between making ends meet, and keeping their staff safe as the occupation of the downtown core enters a second week with no signs of easing up.
The entire downtown core and Byward Market areas are in lockdown once more, except this time it isn’t health restrictions keeping doors closed. Residents are afraid to leave their homes, delivery services face extreme difficulty picking up orders, and clients who are willing to make the trek into the Red Zone find that the protest outside is quite literally ‘horning-in’ on the intimacy of sharing a meal at a restaurant with a loved one.
Restaurants have shown up for our community year after year, and it’s time to return the favour. It's time for action. Takeaway and meal kits can only go so far. Our restaurants need our support to weather this storm, and they need it now.
We've put together a team of connected folks to manage the distribution of this fund. The team includes a Chef, an event planner, a marketing genius, a food critic, a customer, and many others, to oversee the equitable distribution of all donated funds.
This fund will provide grants to restaurant owners in need, following a thorough vetting process. If the fund becomes as substantial as we're hoping, we're envisioning distributing grants based on demonstrated need and geographic proximity to the Red Zone. Our goal is to get as much money into restaurateur hands as quickly as possible.
The Restaurateurs will be required to share a minimum of 50% of the grant amount with all the employees of the restaurant. Their losses through this crisis are impossible to calculate, all members of the hospitality community need help today too.
If we exceed fundraising goals significantly, we will adapt the process to best service restaurants in need. Any funds remaining will be donated to a food charity chosen by the committee.
We promise to keep you informed as we go and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us keep a vital sector of our community buoyant. It's not going to erase the strain of the last two years, but at least it will help some keep their lights on and give them a chance to move forward. Thousands of people are impacted and we need to help!
If we exceed fundraising goals significantly, we will adapt the process to best service restaurants in need. Any funds remaining will be donated to a food charity chosen by the committee.
We promise to keep you informed as we go and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us keep a vital sector of our community buoyant. It's not going to erase the strain of the last two years, but at least it will help some keep their lights on and give them a chance to move forward. Thousands of people are impacted and we need to help!
The organizing team behind this initiative consists of several prominent people of Ottawa from the restaurant and business community.
Organizer and beneficiary
Robin Duetta
Organizer
Vanier, ON
Mann Lawyers
Beneficiary
