COVID-19 Resources

Keep an eye on this growing list of resources. Newest information will pop to the top of this list. Read my open letter to the catering industry here. Please also follow me on Twitter @cs_editor for other quick bursts of information. Stay strong and do not lose hope. —Kathleeen Stoehr

07.13.20 11:52 a.m. CST

COVID-19 Best Practices for Personal Chefs, Private Chefs, Independent Chefs & Their Clients

Holly  Powers Verbeck has released a reference guide, titled COVID-19 Best Practices for Independent Chefs, Personal Chefs, Private Chefs, and Their Clients. The guide and its 3 training sheets to safeguard the health of the chef and their clients is available for free here.

05.15.20 11:08 a.m. CST

The Centers for Disease Control has released  a checklist of what to consider when thinking about events and gatherings. Find out more here. 

EcoLab has released resources how to safely reopen. Access them here.

05.14.20 9:45 a.m. CST

The Event Safety Alliance has released “The Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide." Check it out here.

05.13.20 3:51p.m. CST 

The National Restaurant Association releases coronavirus reopening guide for industry. See them here.

04.10.20 9:52 a.m. CST

American Culinary Federation has compiled a list of resources for chefs related to COVID-19 and the economic effects of it. See it here.

04.09.20 2:13 p.m. CST

Reminder: Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCA) went into effect on April 1, 2020.

The FFCRA, signed into law on March 18, created two temporary leave programs (Emergency Paid Sick Leave, EPSL; and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion, EFMLE) that require private sector employers with less than 500 employees to provide leave to employees impacted by COVID-19. Under the law, covered employers qualify for 100 percent (full costs of both leave programs) reimbursement through refundable tax credits.
The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division is responsible for implementing and enforcing new leave mandates enacted as part of the Phase II COVID-19 response bill.  

Click here for more information

04.08.20 2:14 p.m. CST

The ICA is making all COVID-19 resources available to the catering industry. Check back often as new documents are added daily. Click here to view.

03.30.20 11:45 CST

Aaron Kaufman of Fifth Element Group has started an initiative to reach out to people who have been laid off: a list to make those people visible to companies who can hire, or will be hiring in the future. He says, "absolutely no gain in this for me, either personal or business, just some good will." The link (below) is to a sortable form. Let's get some traction and get people working again! Click here: https://bit.ly/2xtOfMU

03.30.20 11:20 a.m.  CST

The James Beard Foundation has launched a Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund. Learn More here.

03.26.20 9:30 a.m. CST

May 15 is the targeted date for when things should begin to resemble some sort for normalcy. Read Jen Perna's tips for what you should be doing until then. 

03.25.20 10:21 a.m. CST

If you are continuing to operate, whether thats through a drop-off/pick-up business or through donated meals, make sure you keep your kitchens safe. Here are some tips from We Are Chefs for keeping your kitchen clean.

03.24.20 3:22 p.m. CST

Facebook will soon be accepting applications for its new Small Business Grarnts Program, which will be giving away  $100M in cash grants and ad credits. Learn how to apply here.

03.23.20 10:21 a.m. CST

Many caterers are moving to a delivery business in thet wake of COVID-19. Nuophoriq has created templates for setting up a delivery website. Here are a few examples of templates they've created so far. Learn more here.

03.22.20 10:03 a.m. CST

Suggestions for how to survive COVID-19 from Michael Rosman of the Corporate Caterer. Click here to learn more.

03.21.20 6:00 a.m. CST

Some quick advice on how to shutter your bars for the next month. This is also something to put into account if you are switching to just Food Only while your bar stays still. Learn More.

03.22.20 12:26 pm CST

Nowsta has started a Worker Relief Fundraising effort for all the hourly workers that have participated in its platform and have been negatively impacted from the COVID-19 pandemic. You may already know that Nowsta specifically created its platform for the catering industry and, as you might expect, nearly all of its clients attend Catersource and/or are members of the Leading Caterers of America (LCA).
See the Nowsta Worker Relief Fund gofundme site here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nowsta-worker-relief-fundGoal: $100,000

03.20.20 3:00 p.m. CST

A Facebook group has been set up to discuss the latest on COVID-19 for caterers and restaurant employees. Request to join it now.

03.20.20 9:42 a.m. CST

There is currently a petition circulating in supporting the need for a Federal Aid Package for the Events Industry. Sign it Now.

03.20.20 a.m.

Great information from ACF (American Culinary Federation):

Financial assistance:

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance

San Francisco, CA- COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCY FUND 

Charlottesville, VA- Charlottesville Restaurant Community Fund 

Georgia- Giving Kitchen

Texas- Southern Smoke Foundation Emergency Relief Program

NYC- Rethink Food Restaurant Response Program 

Seattle, WA- 2020 Emergency Fund for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Grubhub and Major Cities Across the U.S. Launch Economic Relief Effort up to $100 Million for Independent Restaurants and Delivery Partners Impacted by COVID-19

U.S. Small Business Administration Loans

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program

U.S. Small Business Administration Lender Match Program

Resources for restaurants:

The Trotter Project: COVID-19 Information and Resources

Petition: Save America's Restaurants

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Combating the Coronavirus

National Restaurant Association: Coronavirus Information

Safety & sanitation information:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Overview of COVID-19

U.S. Department of Labor Q&A on Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act

Environmental Protection Agency List of approved disinfectants for use against Coronavirus

National Restaurant Association COVID-19 Prevention tips

Centers for Disease Control Community Mitigation Strategy

Other Resources:

Dining at a Distance - Listing of restaurants that are still operating during lockdowns in major cities 

Atlanta Restaurants Temporarily Offering Curbside Pick-Up and Delivery

Tracking Nashville Restaurant Closures and Changes Due to Coronavirus Concerns

Where to Eat Excellent Takeout While Dallas’s Dining Rooms Are Closed

ACF Travel information