Drexelbrook, Visit Delco PA feed unemployed hospitality workers
Now through Jan. 23, Delco Feeds Delco is reaching out to the community to help feed unemployed hospitality workers.
Steve Byrne, executive director of Visit Delco PA, explained that the Delco Feeds Delco effort is a partnership among his organization, The Drexelbrook, the Springfield Country Club and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce to assist hard-hit hospitality workers during a time that’s normally a money-making season for them.
“One of the hardest industries hit was the hospitality industry,” Byrne said. “This is the time of the year when those people rely on getting a big percentage of their income.”
He explained that after talking to a server at a local restaurant, he learned that the holiday season is when they really receive their tips.
“That went by the wayside this year,” Byrne said. “With the new mitigation orders coming out from the state and indoor dining being cut out for a while we’ve had a lot of these bartenders, servers who rely on this time of year. They’ve been hurt.”
So he and the Drexelbrook wanted to help.
A $25 donation at drexelbrookcatering.com/delcofeeds-delco will provide a meal for a family of four plus a $10 ShopRite gift card. Families can also apply on the site as recipients. Meals will be distributed from 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Rose Tree Park, 1501 N. Providence Road in Upper Providence.
In 2019, hotels, restaurants and attractions in the tourism sector had an economic impact of $781 million in Delaware County, according to Byrne.
“That rate alone equals 14,000 jobs,” he said. “How many of them have been furloughed, laid off? It’s hard to say right now.”
Byrne said that industry had been steadily growing but now pre-COVID numbers won’t be reached for some time.
“It’s projected we won’t see those numbers go back until 20204,” Byrne said.
In the meantime, Delco Feeds Delco is hoping to help in whatever way it can.
“It’s just a support, it’s not much but if we can supply one meal for a family of
four, it’s something,” Byrne said, adding that this sector, like others, has been grappling with this since March. “The hospitality industry has not been supported.”
Similar efforts other groups.
Beginning in April, Food for the Frontline has provided almost 6,000 meals to frontline health care workers in area hospitals and care facilities. More than 700 meals were distributed to Delaware County homeless shelters through the Springfield Country Club’s Holiday Hunger Relief program running from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Information on that program can be found at springfieldcc.net/holi
helped
day-hunger-relief.
Those involved in these programs are hoping to help in whatever way they
can.
“It’s not a lot but its reaching out to that industry and let them know that
we’re trying to do something,” Byrne said. “It’s not anything major but it’s something.”