EAT gift card program served up to restaurant workers during lean times
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Restaurant employees are getting a special perk from their owners in a new Employee Trade Appreciation program called EAT.
Each restaurant is putting in gift cards with a $20. value. The more they put in the more they get out from other restaurants in the program.They are encouraged to take a variety.
Those are handed out to their workers as a special bonus during these tough times.
Downtown Organization President Bob Stout says, "This is an amazing program. Everyone is doing everything they can during this COVID-19 crisis. Restaurants as we know are terribly hit by this and there are a lot of out of work employees who really are struggling to find food and money to buy food."
He says most of the recipients are living on a very lean budget and are worried for themselves and their families. "So for them to be able to get a meal prepared by a restaurant for their wife and kids it is really something to be thankful for."
Already in the program are Pascucci, Jeannine's, El Bajio, Woody's, Lito's, South Coast Deli, Giovanni's, Anderson, Tri-County Produce, Galanga, Holdren's, Natural Cafe, Craft Ramen, Mesa Cafe, Kanoloa, Santa Barbara Roasting Company, Oku, The Little Kitchen, Shalhoob Meat Company, Corozon Cocina, Roy, Sushi Teri, Rose Cafe, Opal, Mesa Burger, Blenders, McConnell's Ice Cream, Sachi, and Cajun Kitchen.
The program is not limited to Santa Barbara and regional restaurants are encouraged to join in.
"You should contact Laura Knight at Pascucci. She has put this program together, and collected all the cards and will continue to collect the cards and give everyone the information they need to know," said Stout. "Once all the cards are in, Laura will call all the people who turned them in and simply say 'which restaurants do you want cards from' and they will exchange, and have those to give to their employees."
