The Giving Kitchen Helps Those in Need in the Restaurant Community
Industry: Business
TGK helps those facing sudden financial crisis.
ATLANTA, Ga (PRUnderground) July 1st, 2016
The Giving Kitchen is an organization based in Atlanta that helps those in the restaurant community who are having a difficult time financially due to unexpected circumstances.
The group helps servers, dishwashers, line cooks and chefs when they need emergency financial assistance due to sudden crisis, injury, fire, illness or death of a family member. TGK provides basic living expenses in order to help restaurant workers make it through what is a stressful and difficult time.
TGK began in 2012, after a local chef, Ryan Hidinger, found himself facing late stage cancer. Along with this, of course, came staggering medical bills on top of other, everyday bills – at a time when Ryan was not well enough to work. There was overwhelming support from the community, and the founders of TGK realized there was not only a continuous need for help among the restaurant community, but a desire to keep helping.
The financial help is given after an application is filled out and employment is verified. The applicant must also provide proof of need. If they are approved, a check is made out to the applicant’s landlord or utility company.
Grants from TGK don’t cover items like insurance, medical bills, cable or phone bills. Applicants are given just enough to help to get through the crisis, and then to help prevent them from falling into a bad financial situation as they recover from the sudden emergency. And of course, TGK also works to provide peace of mind!
TGK is a not-for-profit organization. They are funded by restaurants, distributors, suppliers, sponsors of special events, corporations, and, of course, individual donors.
For now, a large part of the group’s purpose is letting the restaurant community know they are there to help.
“We are asking for people to serve as our eyes and ears in the restaurant community, to let people know that help is available,” said Susie Rachele, a representative of TGK. “The restaurant community is responsible for 10% of the workforce in this country and adds over $709 billion to the economy. They work hard and make sacrifices to ensure that every meal, every holiday, every special event is memorable. Restaurant workers are the backbone of every healthy community, and we are grateful to them!”TGK helps those facing sudden financial crisis.
