The Chicago Food World Comes Together to Give Back
Chicago is coming together every day in a way that is truly inspiring and exciting. From our food world to our frontline workers to individual residents banding together, we are seeing new efforts being made everyday to make a difference in our great city. And that includes bars and restaurants, too! So many of them are making a difference, and we've been honored to see every donated meal, every care package for an employee. These are just some of the places you can support in that quest right now, but we know there will be plenty more to come...
Hannah's Bretzel {multiple locations}
If you want to support our local healthcare workers, Hannah's Bretzel is now offering discounted catering sandwich trays just for them 🥖❤️👏🏼 Anyone can purchase a variety of sizes of the sandwich trays and Hannah’s will deliver them to a hospital of your choice! Check out the catering page on their website for pricing and more details. Every meal counts!
Frontlines
This new Chicago group of volunteers is making a difference on multiple levels in our city. They're raising funds from the community to support local restaurants and feed heroes working on the frontlines at the same time. They are working with restaurants like Farmhouse Chicago, LYFE Kitchen, and more to donate more than 215,000 meals to frontline workers to date. And they're just getting started!
Haisous {1800 South Carpenter Street, Chicago; 312.702.1303}
To say that Chef Thai Dang has been working hard to look after his staff and his Pilsen neighborhood while his restaurant has been closed would be the understatement of the year. From packing up care packages and delivering them personally to his staff, to providing meals to the community, to offering advice on loans and insurance, Dang and his wife Danielle have been looking out for the Chicago food world every single day. You can still support them and Haisous by buying gift cards and following along with their efforts so you can be ready to dine with them again when they re-open.
DineAmic Hospitality
The restaurant group that has brought us favorite spots like Siena Tavern and Bombobar is now putting their money where their mouth is to support over 700+ furloughed employees who have been impacted indefinitely by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their Feed The Fearless mission provides a gateway for the community to come together in providing meals for frontline healthcare workers and essential first responders we all depend on, while also providing jobs to our furloughed restaurant staff. With the capacity to serve over 5,000 meals every week, they are always looking for more sponsorship and funding support. For every dollar in fundraising received, their chefs can prepare from-scratch meals to those who need it most!
You can also donate to their Employee Relief Fund to support those employees, and for every $1000 milestone achieved in fundraising, they will also be donating a $100 gift certificate to a donor selected at random! That way you can help support them now, and get money to spend with them later! Their #FeedTheFearless team is also donating feeding frontline workers like the police department. Something for everyone!
The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group Charities
The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group has been a part of the Chicago food world for decades, and they are stepping up now to look after the community that has helped them grow and succeed. They have partnered with The LEE Initiative to transform their spot, West Town Bakery & Diner, into "Chicago’s Restaurant Workers Relief Center." Starting at the beginning of April, they began providing free meals and essentials to restaurant industry workers in need from West Town Bakery & Diner every single day. From The Fifty/50 sports bar, they are also providing meals to all those in need (not just restaurant workers) from Tuesday-Sunday. These meals are at a first-come-first-serve basis until supplies run out, and continually make a real difference in the lives of Chicagoans who are struggling.
They are also partnering with chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen to deliver free meals to hospitals to feed healthcare workers that are treating patients with COVID-19 here in Chicago. World Central Kitchen has ramped up its relief efforts during the coronavirus outbreak around the world, but this partnership between World Central Kitchen, Moore, and The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group is the first initiative in Chicago.
Eat Purely
Want to help thank our Chicago hospital staff? You can “add another meal” (or two or three!) to your Eat Purely cart, and they will deliver it directly to our medical personnel! Each donated meal is just $6.00 and will go to their partners at Cook County Hospital, Lurie Children’s, NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital, and Rush. They need our support, and you can give it...right from your phone!
Jet's Pizza {multiple locations}
You have to get moving to help make a difference on this one! Through the end of May, Jet's Pizza is running a "Buy A Pizza, Give A Pizza" initiative that everyone can enjoy. Help Jet's Pizza feed those leading the fight against COVID-19 locally by purchasing a pizza for pickup or delivery on Monday and Tuesday through the end of May. For every large, regularly priced pizza purchased, they'll donate one as well. Order while you can!
etta {1840 West North Avenue, Chicago; 312.757.4444}
Dine deliciously, then spread the flavor! Whenever you buy an etta Family Meal, you can now buy an additional Family Meal at half the price to give to another family. The recipient will be invited to schedule a specific pick up day/time designated by the restaurant teams so they can save room for a feast. “Get One, Give One” encourages both supporting local restaurants and fostering connection during a time of isolation! There's no better goal than that!
Tanta x Arbella
These two Chicago mainstays are working together to feed our frontlines! They want to provide meals for all the healthcare professionals risking their lives and battling this health pandemic. They began their "Feed the Frontline" initiative with a donation of $1,000, and made their first delivery to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center with many more in the future. But they need your help! For every 60 meals purchased by other Windy City supporters, they are able to provide meals to a unit at various hospitals throughout Chicago. So, let's get to work!
By Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor