Efforts underway to help area service workers amid pandemic

Programs look to help support unemployed, underemployed stay afloat

When COVID-19 hit the region this spring, more than $90 million in wages never made it to the pockets of thousands of hospitality and leisure workers in Anne Arundel, including restaurantworkers.

Employees earned a collective $200 million in the first quarter of this year, but only $110 million in the second quarter, the steepest decline of any county sector, according to Department of Labor data.

Local businesses have stepped up to help workers, with two recent efforts hoping to improve the Christmas holidays with direct gifts, encouragement to shop at local restaurants, and get money into restaurantworkers’ hands.

To make sure employees who lost employment or hours have gifts for their families this holiday season, Molly Alton Mullins, CEO of Seven 12 Management, has set up a page where people can sponsor individual gifts, or more than one, for workers at 50 restaurants in the Annapolis area.

Many have asked for gift cards; thatway, they can get exactly what theywant or buy household supplies fromstores likeTarget.

“Anyone who is a part of the Annapolis restaurant community knows how special it is in this town,” she said. “We hate to see our friends hurting when they want to work, but they simply can’t right now.”

At seven12management.com, you can browse wish lists from various restaurants in the area, including gift requests for games, toys and clothing. From the wish list, register to buy and deliver a specific gift. Gifts are due to participating restaurants byWednesday. They are also asking people to pick up dinner to-go when they drop off the present to support local business further. Mullins said 150 gifts had been purchased so far.

Restaurants were set to halt indoor dining at 5 p.m. Dec. 16 in response to an order from County Executive Steuart Pittman to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge William Mulford II approved a temporary restraining order and injunction filed Tuesday night by Ed Hartman, an attorney representing four restaurant owners in the county. The injunction allowsrestaurants to operate at 25% capacity inside and 50% capacity outside until the next hearing on Dec. 28.

Shawn Noratel, a founding partner of Liquified Creative, said employees might be working half their typical hours, making paying bills a challenge.

His firm has partnered with Eye on Annapolis and Third Eye Comics for an effort to help buoy other businesses through this storm, called Annapolis Gives. One way they are giving back: facilitating tips that go straight to restaurantworkers.

Liquified Creative made a website where people can donate to a randomlyselected restaurant employee, or someone specific, using apps such as Venmo and PayPal. They are looking for more people to sign up for the Tip It Forward program. To donate or ask to be added to the list of people to tip, visit www.annapolis gives.com.

The tip program is for anyone in any service industry affected by the pandemic, not just restaurantworkers. Alittle gift can go a longway, DigitalMarketingManager CaitlinWiggins said.

“A small $20 tip, $30 tip could mean that that person can then go get presents for their family,” she said.