Support local restaurants by serving hope to their workers.

LOOK BEYOND THE MENU

As you support our local restaurants during Inlander Restaurant Week, take a moment to look beyond the menu and recognize the dedicated workers who make each meal and dining experience deliciously memorable. Many workers could be struggling with homelessness, a devastating medical diagnosis, debilitating dental pain, transportation issues, or overwhelming depression. But these challenges remain unseen because they wear a smile as part of their uniform every day.

HIDDEN BEHIND THE SMILES

Hidden behind the smiles of those working in restaurants and hotels is the highest concentration of need in our nation. And yes, that means in Spokane, too.

Supporting local this Restaurant Week means more than eating out – it is also about seeing this critical need in our community and choosing to make a difference together. By supporting their workers, we strengthen the very health of the restaurants they serve.

HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF NEED

While restaurant and hospitality workers make up one of the largest industries in the nation and offer employment opportunities to some of our most vulnerable demographics in our community: single parents, at-risk teens, immigrants, income-insecure seniors, and those rebuilding their lives after incarceration.  

Nearly all of the top ten lowest paid jobs are in this industry, so it isn’t surprising that nearly half of those working in restaurants live barely above the official poverty line. This reality also brings with it some of the highest levels of addiction, chronic stress, pervasive mental health struggles, and broken relationships. 

And because of all this, Big Table has been caring for industry workers in crisis for 15 years now.

“What we really do is serve hope,” says Kevin Finch, the executive director and founder of Big Table. “We respond quickly with triage crisis care and then provide ongoing relational support and mentoring.”

WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE

Think groceries to keep a family fed, support to see a therapist, help with medical bills, a bus pass, or car repair to keep someone from losing their job. Right now, over 50% of care referrals are for workers on the brink of eviction from their homes or apartments…or already homeless and still fighting to hold down one or two jobs. Learn more about Big Table’s unique care model HERE.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

“Enjoying an incredible meal during Restaurant Week is a great way to support our vibrant local restaurant community,” Finch says. “But looking beyond the menu and showing kindness and generosity while you are there… even a smile and a genuine thank you… goes a long way.”

Check out creative ideas on How to Care While Eating and Sleeping on Big Table’s website. You can donate directly to Big Table and bring critical care to local restaurant and hospitality workers in crisis. 

Learn more about Big Table by visiting www.bigtable.org.