As of June 2021, Hot Bread Kitchen’s Chef Collective, in partnership with Food For Soul’s Refetorrio, distributed 15,000+ meals in the Harlem community, rescuing 2,600 pounds of food in the process.
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Hot Bread Kitchen, in partnership with the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation, expanded our workforce training program to include Facility Management, a rapidly growing and high-paying field with opportunities for professional advancement.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hot Bread Kitchen quickly adapted to provide support for women, small business owners, and communities. Read about our support for our community through emergency meal relief, cash stipends, and more.
George Floyd is killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25, triggering massive Black Lives Matter protests across the U.S. and around the world. Hot Bread Kitchen: Re-committed to anti-racism work and solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement and BIPOC, including a refocus on a staff-led DEIA committee and creating safe-space community conversations for our members.
NYC: Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan applications open: 12% percent of NYC businesses approved to receive PPP loans (“The Failures of the PPP in NYC”). Unemployment rate in NYC reaches 20% (“NYS Economy Added 296,400 Private Sector Jobs in June 2020”). 2.9 million people applied for unemployment in New York since March (Initial Claims Data). Hot Bread Kitchen: Launched emergency meals campaign to achieve dual goals of funding small businesses and providing meals to hospital workers. Offered rent-free kitchen space to 5 small businesses providing over 25,000 emergency meals. Launched public hotline for all food workers, in addition to our alumnae, to provide assistance with applying for unemployment and public benefits. Continued support for members, including emergency stipends, PPP loan applications, unemployment applications, and other referrals.
NYC: 2,637% increase in the number of unemployment claims in NYC from this time period in 2019, including over a 4,150% increase in claims in the Accommodation and Food Services industry statewide (Initial Claims Data). 2 out of 3 of all restaurant workers lost their jobs on a temporary or permanent basis (Parrot). Hot Bread Kitchen: Disbursed first emergency checks, which would ultimately help 177 members weather the gap between income loss and delayed unemployment payments. Started offering resource guides to help members navigate unemployment and public benefits applications.
