Non-profit organization creates The Texas Restaurant Relief Assistance Fund to assist minority-owned businesses affected by Winter Storm Uri
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 22, 2021) Feed the Soul Foundation, the non-profit arm of Black Restaurant Week, LLC, created the Texas Restaurant Relief Assistance Fund specific to Black-owned and Latin-owned culinary businesses affected by last week’s Winter Storm Uri.
Created in 2020, Feed the Soul Foundation aspires to aid marginalized entrepreneurs in the culinary industry with business development resources to foster sustainable business growth. A component of the organization also features an emergency relief fund, wherein their Texas Restaurant Relief Assistance Fund aims to raise $25,000.00 to grant restaurants affected by Winter Storm Uri.
Restaurants are faced with the following financial challenges as they recover from the storm:
- Property damage: burst pipes, soiled carpets, ravaged walls, and ruined flooring
- Perishable food waste: loss of power resulted in food inventory waste
- Loss of revenue: forced business closures resulted in a loss of revenue and salary for employees
FEMA assistance and insurance policies are not guaranteed to cover all the financial challenges minority-owned businesses face as they recover from the damage.
Feed The Soul Foundation partnered with Black Restaurant Week LLC and Latin Restaurant Weeks and together, proactively created a Social Media Tool Kit, which is available on their website – https://feedthesoulfou.org/donations/texas-restaurant-relief-assistance/ – equipped with call-to-action graphics and messaging points.
“Two out of three minority businesses were already concerned about the impending possibility of business closure due to the effects of COVID,” says Dr. Asheli S. Atkins, Executive Director of Feed the Soul Foundation. “With last week’s Winter Storm adding to the stress of remaining in businesses, our main priority is to provide economic support to struggling minority-owned businesses.”
For more information about Feed the Soul Foundation and to donate to The Texas Restaurant Relief Assistance Fund, please visit feedthesoulfou.org.
About Feed the Soul Foundation:
Black Restaurant Week, LLC established the Feed the Soul Foundation to aid marginalized entrepreneurs in the culinary industry with business development resources and support in order to foster sustainable business growth. The Feed the Soul Foundation classifies marginalized business owners as people of color, LGBTQIA+, senior citizens, military combat veterans, hearing, visually, and physically challenged persons, and formally incarcerated individuals. The goal of the Restaurant Business Development Fund is equip marginalized business owners with business development training and consultation services to improve business operations, increase access to business resources including programming, funding and technology, support the growth and expansion of marginalized entrepreneurs culinary businesses to create economically sustainable communities and invest in workforce training to employees of culinary businesses with marginalized owners.
About Black Restaurant Week:
Black Restaurant Week LLC is an annual, multi-city culinary movement celebrating the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine nationwide. Black Restaurant Week partners with Black-owned restaurants, chefs, caterers, and food trucks to host a selection of culinary experiences aimed to expand awareness and increase support for Black culinary professionals. The organization was founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. Connect with Black Restaurant Week on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
About Latin Restaurant Weeks:
Latin Restaurant Weeks highlights the contributions of Latinos and Latinas in the culinary industry and acknowledges them as an integral part of the local community, providing them with a platform to amplify their visibility. For two weeks, participating Latin restaurants offer prix fixe menus, which helps stimulate revenue within the community.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
About Black Restaurant Week – Black Restaurant Week LLC is an annual, multi-city culinary movement celebrating the flavors of African, African-American and Caribbean cuisine nationwide. Black Restaurant Week partners with black-owned restaurants, chefs, caterers and food trucks to host a selection of culinary experiences aimed to expand awareness and increase support for black culinary professionals. The organization was founded in 2016 by entrepreneurs Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. Connect with Black Restaurant Week on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
