Feeding Kids and Community

At The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State, they have one core philosophy throughout... Take care of your people.  They are the ones who create your food, ensure standards and cleanliness are enforced, create the connective experiences that enrich guests' lives, and in the end, determine whether or not your business will become a success.

 

We have carried that philosophy over into Woodchips since we first opened our doors in down town Lapeer over 6 years ago.  The reason we opened Woodchips in our home town was because we believed that the down town could mount a comeback, we believed that the community wanted something they could be proud of that not only worked to provide great experiences for every guest, but that also worked to support locals and anyone in need.

 

The challenging circumstances of the last several months made all of that difficult. The day in march we had to lay off over 2/3s of our staff was the hardest of my professional career. Our amazing team carried us through the lockdown, even in the darkest days when we did not know if we would survive.  We doubled down on our community support providing over 2,000 meals for Essential Workers as well as those struggling financially in need of a scratch made warm meal served with smiling eyes.  And we did everything we could to be a beacon of light for our team, our community, our home town.

 

We succeeded.  But for some reason in this country, we continue to treat restaurant workers as second class citizens.  And once more, the government is attempting to shut down the majority of our business and force us to again lay off staff headed into the holidays.  This time, there is no extra safety net.  There is no expanded unemployment benefits.  There is no "stimulus" check.  And some local soup kitchens and food pantries have cut back or even closed as need has skyrocketed.

 

Sunday night, and into monday morning, as news of the impending re-lockdown spread... we were bombarded by messages from our team.  Single Mom's scared that they wouldn't be able to feed their kids, let alone provide for the holidays.  Homeowners terrified they would not be able to make their mortgage payments.  Renters unsure if they would be able to keep their apartments.  And so many tears as this unprecedented period of mental and emotional strain appears ready to get even harder.  The governor has said there is no more money and put blame on the federal government for not doing more.

 

But blame does not feed kids.  It does not keep the lights on.  It does not keep a roof over heads.

 

"Take care of your people.  Take care of your people."  The words repeated in my head as I did my best to ensure each teammate that we would find a way to get through this.

 

But there isn't a way.  While we may be able to find ways for the restaurant to survive, what's the point if you must walk over the destroyed lives of the people who make the business what it is just to get there.

 

So it is with no rash decision that with both our eyes and hearts wide open we must say "Enough".

 

We will not close down.  We will not abandon our team, our FAMILY... so that we may carry on.  We will TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.

 

We will however double down on mask wearing.  We will add additional space between tables and remove more seats.  We will install dividers throughout the dining room.  We will triple the number of Serv Safe certified safety managers on staff.  We will temperature check and health screen our teammates daily.  And our eyes will smile the biggest smiles at anyone who walks through our doors so that they can know they are appreciated, they are loved, and they are not alone.

 

For the course of this lockdown, we will operate as a non profit.  We will offer HALF OFF to anyone in an affected industry, any essential worker, any educator, any restaurant employee.  To anyone else struggling financially or emotionally in need of a warm meal, you will be welcomed and expected to pay only whatever you can afford.  We will turn no one away.

 

We understand that for some of you, this will not be good enough.  And to that all I can say is "I'm sorry."  While this disease is real and can have devastating effects on a small segment of the population, we also know that most people are not at risk of serious illness.  Demanding that burden of protecting those in need be transferred to our teammates in the form of financial and emotional ruin is not an appropriate answer.  With only 4% of outbreaks statewide being linked to restaurants who have served millions of meals, we know we are not some huge health risk, especially with our increased protections.

 

So it is at this time, as 1 in 3 families with children face hunger this holiday season, that I ask for your understanding and your support.  We will not turn our backs on anyone, but we cannot do this alone.

 

We have started a Go Fund Me campaign linked to in the comments shortly after this is posted.  Any funds raise through this will be earmarked exclusively for our teammates salaries, and for continuing to provide discounted or free meals to those in need.

 

Additionally, you may offer support by purchasing gift cards through our website.  If you want to go the extra mile and pay it forward even further, we encourage donating those gift cards to individuals, families, or organizations in need.

 

This is not a political cause.  I voted for neither Biden or Trump.  I am neither a supporter of Ds or Rs.  But I am a supporter and believer in humanity, and the responsibility we have to our fellow brothers and sisters to look out for them, to care for them, and let them know they are not alone, they are not forgotten, but they are very much loved.

 

Tomorrow I will be back with another Live broadcast to answer as many questions as I can about what we are doing and why.  While I do not expect all of you to support our efforts, I at least hope that you will offer some understanding as to why we feel we must take these actions.

 

Please have a good day, lead with love and understanding, and if I or Woodchips can help you in anyway, do not hesitate to reach out.