Over the last three weeks, we’ve been highlighting some of the ways Canada’s food and drink community has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support those who’ve been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We continue to be amazed by the efforts of restaurants, grocers, wineries, and distilleries to provide support and inspiration through donations, initiatives, meal delivery, and much more.
When we began this coverage, we never imagined that it would turn into a multi-part series, but as long as Canadians continue to do incredible things, we’ll keep covering it. There are undoubtedly many more instances of altruism that we haven’t covered yet, so keep an eye out for part four and beyond.
Here are just a few of the ways Canada’s hospitality heavyweights have given back during the pandemic.
Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country
This week, Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country and Oliver Eats Ltd. launched a new initiative called the H.O.P.E. Fund (Helping Our People Eat). The fund will support up to 200 fresh and frozen family meals per week for members of the region’s hospitality industry who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
Unemployed regional hospitality workers can reach out to Oliver Osoyoos for support via email. Donations toward the fund can be made online.
SkipTheDishes
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, SkipTheDishes’ support package for restaurants on its network has directed more than $5 million back to its partners across the country. The support package now includes a 25 per cent rebate, which will give over $10 million back to restaurants through direct rebates and marketing support.
Canada’s largest and most popular food delivery service also recently announced a $1 million partnership with Food Banks Canada, and has introduced a tip option for customers to support local restaurants that has already raised over $200,000.
Trans Canada Brewing Co.
After shifting to delivery and take-out only, Winnipeg's Trans Canada Brewing Co. found themselves with a surplus of time and ingredients, and have been quietly delivering more than 200 pizzas and more than 100 boxed meals daily to shelters and food charities throughout the city.
Bosa Properties and Glowbal Restaurant Group
Bosa Properties’ Element Vancouver Metrotown and Glowbal Restaurant Group’s Trattoria Italian Kitchen Burnaby are teaming up to provide healthcare workers in the Fraser Healthy Authority with safe and comfortable rooms to rest and a complimentary meal, between shifts or during imposed quarantines.
Bosa Properties has committed to help sponsor meals as well as cover the full cost of room fees, taxes, and on-site parking at the hotel. Healthcare workers can book accommodations to self-isolate for up to 14 nights.
Paramount Fine Foods
After already donating nearly 2,000 meals to food banks and shelters across the GTA, Paramount Fine Foods recently provided consultation along with a significant donation to support the efforts of GroceryHero.
GroceryHero is a free grocery delivery service for frontline workers which, in just over three weeks, has made more than 1,000 matches between medical workers and volunteers across the country.
Medical workers and volunteers can register for the program online.
Lake of Bays Brewing Co.
Lake of Bays Brewing Co. has been donating 10 cents from each can of Lake of Bays beer to Ontario-based food charity, Feed Ontario. So far, the fund has raised $2,493--or 7,479 meals--to people in need through Feed Ontario’s charitable networks.
Yujiro Japanese Restaurant Group
The Yujiro restaurant group has rallied their Winnipeg properties to deliver free meals to the city’s hospitals. So far, the restaurant group has delivered more than 400 meals to hospitals such as St. Boniface, Victoria, Deer Lodge Centre, and Women’s Hospital.
