Halifax Fundraiser Raising Thousands For Out-Of-Work Servers
HALIFAX — Haligonians are coming together to help people laid off because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Hundreds of baristas, serves, cooks, and hostesses in the city have already lost their jobs because of COVID-19. But a new fundraiser that promises to put a little cash back into their pockets is picking up steam.
As of March 20, the Tip Your Servers Nova Scotia COVID-19 relief fund has collected more than $1,600 for out-of-work hospitality employees in the city.
Katelyn Bourgoin organized and is running the fundraiser. She worked for years as a server and says she knew how tough things were going to be for servers out there and wanted to do something to help.
“I think back to when I was serving, you know, you’re fighting over trying to get the best shifts and tips but most people are not even thinking about what would happen if all the restaurants close,” she says.
“There are a lot of servers that are just trying to make ends meet. When I was serving there’s no way I would have been prepared for something like this.”
Along with servers, Bourgoin says many other hospitality workers will be hit hard by layoffs as well, which is why the fundraiser is open to anybody who works in the industry: that means bartenders, baristas, wait staff, hostesses, and cooks.
The point of the fundraiser is to provide “urgent relief” to workers in the hospitality industry through a series of $250 “tips” paid out from the fund.
Bourgoin set an ambitious goal of raising $25,000 so she can give tip donations to 100 people over the next few weeks.
Two-hundred-and-fifty dollars is not a lot of money, she says, “but it’s enough to buy groceries and take a bit of the pressure off.”
The fundraiser has been running since March 17 and on Friday morning 239 people had already signed up for a chance to receive one of the donations.
“There’s a lot more people who need funding than have given funding, so I’m excited to keep spreading the word about this,” she says.
Bourgoin says she’s particularly touched to see so many people donating even when they’re facing their own financial hardships thanks to the pandemic.
“I know people are starting to be pretty stressed and thinking about their own finances as well, so it makes it extra special to see people donating,” she says.
“Looking around and seeing all of the ways people are helping each other out during the pandemic, it’s like, yeah we have a virus that’s spreading rapidly, but humanity is kind of stepping up and kindness is spreading rapidly, too, which is reassuring to see.”
Bourgoin says she will give out the first round of $250 “tips” in a live video on Monday. To sign up for the lottery, or to donate yourself, visit the fundraiser’s webpage here.