All of us at the Connecticut Restaurant Association and our non-profit, the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation, are committed to helping the restaurant industry through this crisis. We are beyond concerned about our 8,500 restaurants and their 160,000 employees facing uncertain futures.
The Connecticut Restaurant Association, through its 501(c)(3) foundation, the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation, has formed the Connecticut Hospitality Emergency Fund to provide immediate emergency funds to hospitality workers. CHEF, funded by private, community and individual donations, will distribute grants to our front-line employees during these uncertain times of mandated restaurant shutdowns.
HOW CAN YOU HELP We all have our favorite restaurant or bar, our favorite bartender or server….they are always there for us. NOW it’s time to be there for them. As a result of the mandatory closing of dine-in services at all Connecticut restaurants and other businesses, over 100,000 workers have already filed for unemployment. Restaurant owners, with little to no notice about the shutdowns, had no choice but to face the horrible reality of letting much of their staff go. And with 78% of individuals living paycheck to paycheck, our help is critical to the livelihood of our industry workers and their families.
As the virus spreads through our state, even more will be directly impacted by quarantines and caring for sick family members.
DONATE TODAY Please consider a donation to help provide relief to those restaurant workers in critical need of supplemental income, Many have filed for state and federal benefits, but many are in dire need of additional income until restaurants are allowed to reopen and the public health crisis subsides.
Your donation to the Fund is tax deductible. Make your donation today through our secure PayPal site or click on "Corporate Donors" for payments by check. PayPal account is not necessary to pay with a credit card. Donations of any size welcome by selecting Other Amount.
Or make your donation today through our secure PayPal site.
IN NEED? The online application will be available here soon.