National Food Service Worker Day

A food service worker is now reaching out for help every 28 minutes, according to Giving Kitchen, the James Beard Award-winning nonprofit providing emergency assistance and support to food service workers during life's unexpected crises. This urgent pace of need reflects a reality shared by nearly two-thirds of people in America who have worked in food service at some point in their lives.

September 25 is National Food Service Worker Day, and this year Giving Kitchen is celebrating by honoring the many roles that make up the heart and soul of the industry, from chefs and line cooks, to baristas, school cafeteria staff and everyone in between. The day is both a moment of thanks and an opportunity to raise awareness of available support, as more people continue to reach out for help.

"Food service workers are a part of life's most ordinary and extraordinary moments, whether it's remembering a daily coffee order or helping to make sure a birthday celebration is unforgettable," said Allison Padilla-Goodman, CEO of Giving Kitchen. "We believe thanks are due every day, but National Food Service Worker Day is about showing the industry that our gratitude is unwavering and wide, and that support is just a conversation away."

Behind every request for support is someone with a story. In August, those client stories added up to real impact, with Giving Kitchen meeting this urgent need by:

• Protecting Stability: Awarded $277,175 in financial assistance in August. From a client survey, almost 84% of food service workers said the aid helped them avoid potential homelessness, and almost 75% said they avoided eviction.
• Preventing Hunger: 71% of food service workers said financial assistance prevented them from having to skip meals to save money.
• Helping Households: More than 1,200 children in households of food service workers were part of families asking for help.

To support food service workers this National Food Service Worker Day, people across the country can get involved by sharing a food service story, dining out, volunteering or inviting others to join the celebration.

Share, Listen and Learn:

• Use #FSWDay to post a selfie, share a throwback photo, create a short video to give thanks or share a story.

Dine Out and Give Thanks:

• Find and visit a participating restaurant to help raise funds for food service workers.

Volunteer and Spread the Word:

• Sign up to volunteer and receive a swag pack to bring to a restaurant of choice to thank their teams and educate them about Giving Kitchen.

Since its founding, Giving Kitchen has awarded more than $16.3 million in financial assistance, providing stability and support to more than 31,000 food service workers nationwide. To ask for help, visit givingkitchen.org/help. To learn more about how to celebrate, give thanks and raise awareness, visit fsw.day.