About Us

Get to Know Restaurants Care

since 2017

Our History

Restaurants are the heart of our neighborhoods

The inspiration for Restaurants Care came just a few years ago when Jose, a cook in Sacramento, was struck in a hit and run on his way home after a late-night shift. He suffered a broken back, amongst other life-threatening injuries. The doctors at UC Davis Medical Center didn’t expect him to live.

The restaurant community came together and raised money to support Jose while he recovered. At that moment, we knew that something bigger had to happen. Restaurants Care was created to take care of the most vulnerable in our industry. We are here to offer care, support and hope during their darkest hour.

mobilizing quickly

Restaurants Care’s COVID-19 Response

We have been humbled by the need of those in our restaurant community. While we’re not out of the woods yet, we’ve made a meaningful impact. Because of our community’s generosity, we have been able to provide grants to over 1,160 restaurant workers and their families (and counting!). Donations paid for groceries, rent, utility bill payments, and other critical necessities. Together we’ve kept families together and fridges full.

Please note, we have closed our COVID relief grant application (help for furloughed workers) as we’ve awarded all available funding. We continue to provide grants to food and beverage workers facing injury, illness, death in the immediate family, and housing disaster. (Tenga en cuenta que hemos cerrado nuestra solicitud de subvención de ayuda COVID ya que hemos concedido todos los fondos disponibles.) Click here for additional resources.

Download the Restaurants Care COVID-19 Impact Report

Restaurants Care Grants Awarded Since 2017

Natural Disaster Grants Awarded Since 2017

COVID-19 Grants Awarded Since 2020

what drives us

Our Mission

Restaurants Care’s mission is to provide support for our restaurant families in need by offering financial assistance for basic living expenses as people recover from an injury, illness, death in the family, or unseen hardship. We are investing in our workforce, the heart of our community, restaurant workers in their time of need.

We are moved and honored to be a resource to our restaurant community, and we look forward to helping many more through Restaurants Care.