Guy Fieri Steps up When Congress Lets us Down and Raises Over 21.5 Million for Restaurants Workers

Politicians and a plague may have choreographed a dance of disaster in America, but the People are beginning to step up and dance to their own music. From peaceful protests to innovative business models, Americans are tapping into their own unique gifts and resources to inspire, support, and lead one another through a very difficult time.

Among these inspirational Americans is a renowned chef, the “Mayor of Flavortown” himself, Guy Fieri.

Small businesses are a popular target of panicked politicians whenever COVID statistics jump up. While big block chains remain open, small businesses are forced to close, and while powerful politicians enjoy private events at fancy restaurants, all other restaurants are told to close and all other Americans are told to stay home. Some restaurant owners are told their business falls within a hotspot and told to close, while right next door a Hollywood production opens up dining, or right down the block every other business is open. 

For months, Americans struggled to pay bills and reluctantly accepted PPE loans or  stimulus  checks. But then the COVID  relief  came to an end as Congressional Leaders pointed fingers at one another instead of setting politics aside to serve the people who gifted them with the power to do so.

The impact of arbitrary closings, hypocritical politicians, and the criminalization of opening  a restaurant for business is wreaking havoc on the hearts, minds, and livelihoods of Americans, with restaurant owners taking some of the hardest hits. 

While many celebrities use their platforms to bash one political party or complain about Americans who disagree with them, Guy Fieri has set politics aside in favor of helping his fellow Americans. While Congress refused to place a second round of COVID relief above its political plans, Guy created a resource that has provided some measure of relief.

Guy Fieri partnered with the National Restaurant Association to create the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (RERF). In the months since this fund was created, RERF has provided one-time grants of $500 to over 43,000 restaurant owners. 

Guy personally opened up his vast network and made calls to corporations in order to secure their support. He has helped raise over 21 million dollars to help restaurant workers and owners struggling to close gaps between their bills and their decimated income. 

While $500 is not going to solve a restaurant’s long term problems, it can be the difference between keeping the lights on for a week, or not. It can be the emotional lift of knowing people care, and are stepping forward to help, that gives an overwhelmed American the spirit to stay in the game for one more day. It can serve as an inspiration to other Americans to tap into their own gifts and resources, and come together to overcome the divisiveness in support of greater good.

Many states have either brought major lockdowns back into play, implemented various levels of business restrictions, or warned of pending lockdowns. 

The American People are beginning to band together in protest, and divisiveness is running amuck within America. But with people like Guy Fieri showing us how to be a solution to a crisis, maybe more Americans will step up to serve.