The Giving Kitchen Steps Up for Here to Serve Employees

With more than a thousand service industry workers out of a job thanks to the implosion of Here to Serve Restaurants, The Giving Kitchen is making a push to help. The organization that secures donations for restaurant workers in need has announced a plan to address the situation, setting up a separate fund for former Here to Serve employees. Donations can be made online, and those in need can fill out this form to apply for assistance.

"The Giving Kitchen has established a special restricted fund for these employees," reads a statement from TGK executive director Stephanie Galer. "Donations made specifically to this fund will be used to provide emergency assistance to Here to Serve workers facing financial crisis. We will continue to follow the grant application process that has proved to be both efficient and reliable for us and will ask workers to provide proof of employment and financial need along with documentation. We will provide assistance with rent and utilities directly, meaning that all checks will be paid directly to the grantee's vendors."

Here to Serve employees still haven't received paychecks that were due last Friday, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The local restaurant community has come alive with an outpouring of support, and many local eateries have jobs available for displaced workers.