In one week, a GoFundMe campaign by the owners of the companion Birmingham restaurants OvenBird and Hot and Hot Fish Club has raised more than 65 percent of its goal of a $50,000 fund to support its 75 employees laid off owing to the virus crisis.
“Our top priority is keeping our employees’ health insurance coverage from ending and the money raised also goes directly to employees who are no longer able to work with our dining rooms closed,” say owners Chris and Idie Hastings. “Finally, we intend to continue purchasing from our family of purveyors as long as possible to help mitigate their losses and provide to-go and curbside menu options for our supporters.”
The Hot and Hot Fish Club, located in Birmingham’s creative district at Pepper Place, blends Southern, French and California-styles of cooking. The James Beard award-winning restaurant is a neighborhood favorite offering the best ingredients and gracious service. OvenBird, also in Pepper Place, is Chris and Idie Hastings’ live fire, casual restaurant.
GoFundMe started the Small Business Relief Initiative to help small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and empower their communities to rally behind them. GoFundMe partnered with Yelp and Intuit QuickBooks to provide small business owners with the financial support and resources needed to continue running their businesses during and after the coronavirus crisis.
GoFundMe.org, the company’s nonprofit and charitable arm, has also launched the Small Business Relief Fund, which will provide $500 matching grants to qualifying small businesses across the United States.
To learn more about the Small Business Relief Initiative and the Small Business Relief Fund, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/c/small-business-relief-initiative-and-fund-faqs
To find and support a small business, visit the GoFundMe centralized hub for small businesses: https://www.gofundme.com/small-business-relief-fundraisers
