Coronavirus News
Dallas restaurants step up to the plate with charitable COVID-19 acts
Every time you feel like the coronavirus is about to get you down, it seems like some generous Dallas food & beverage entity comes along with an altruistic act — whether it's a financial grant, a helpful COVID-19 test, or an initiative to help DISD students.
Here are three charitable acts in the Dallas restaurant world that are helping others:
Grants for women
The Texas Conference for Women and Texas Restaurant Association have launched an initiative designed to help women restaurateurs.
The organizations will award more than $150,000 in grants to women-owned restaurants across Texas. The Texas Conference for Women – part of the nation's largest network of women's conferences – will donate the grant funds to the Texas Restaurant Association's Texas Restaurant Relief Fund, to assist women in an industry devastated by COVID-19.
Statistics show that women are suffering the impact of COVID-19 at a higher rate: Women accounted for 60 percent of job losses in March, and women are more likely to be impacted by the increased caregiving obligations from shuttered schools and day care centers. There has been an unprecedented drop in the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. from February to April.
The program will provide $2,500 each to more than 60 women-owned restaurants across Texas, which will be selected via an application process through the Texas Restaurant Association. Restaurants can apply at txrestaurant.org/tcw. Grant recipients are scheduled to be announced in September.
COVID-19 tests
BTG: Bullion To Go, which is the takeout arm of Bullion restaurant in downtown Dallas, recently began offering self-collecting COVID-19 tests and saw an overwhelming response. Now BTG has negotiated a new deal with Urgent HomeMD and GeneIQ to make the COVID tests even more accessible to the general public.
The new deal includes adding an out-of-network health insurance option that enables patients to pay $75 for a test, a fraction of the original price. Those who do not have health insurance can also get a test for $75.
These self-collecting tests last no longer than 10 minutes and provide guaranteed results in 48 hours.
Tests are available online at the BTG. Tests are available to anyone over one year old. Once the tests are purchased, BTG schedules an appointment and collects necessary information.
The tests are performed by the patients themselves with Urgent HomeMD physicians and medical staff on site to observe and help administer self-swapping if needed. Patients never need to leave their car, as the entire process is a drive-through. (Cars should approach the drive-through entrance from Wood Street into Lubben Plaza.)
Tests take place Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am-3 pm on the following dates:
- August 18
- August 20
- August 25
- August 27
DISD fundraiser
United to Learn, a Dallas-based nonprofit that serves 53 Dallas ISD elementary schools, is kicking off a unique back-to-school supply drive. As part of their fundraising effort, they've created a fundraiser featuring a dinner delivered to your home.
Called "Dinner for a Cause," it's a dinner created by Alex Snodgrass, author of Whole30 cookbook The Defined Dish, that will be prepared by Origin Kitchen + Bar, with a reusable tablescape created by Emily Clarke Events.
The first 50 people to donate $1,000 or more by August 31 will receive a dinner for two delivered on September 10 by Alto. You can buy dinner for yourself or donate it to a friend or teacher.
The campaign aims to fulfill the wish lists of 2,500 Dallas ISD elementary teachers benefiting 28,500 students. Think subscription digital curricula, individual supplies to prevent sharing, and other post-COVID-19 tools. Donations of any amount are welcome, even if you're not angling for a dinner and can be made at www.unitedtolearn.org/learninglaunch through September 17.
Salmon at Bar LouieCourtesy photo