Here’s How Denver can support restaurants – Operation Family Meal

Operation Family Meal is a non-profit set up to feed Denver’s hospitality industry employees and their families. This is in direct response to the COVID-19 virus, as all of Denver’s bars and restaurants have been mandated to close until May 11th, 2020, displacing thousands of hospitality industry employees across the city.

 

Participating partner restaurants include Brava! Pizzeria, Meta Asian Kitchen, Bistro Georgette, Olivia, Quiero Arepas, Hinman’s Bakery, Blackbelly, Il Posto, American Elm, Highland Tap & Burger, Brider and Pizza Lady, with more joining every day. Distribution partners include Breakthrough Beverage, New Belgium Brewing, Gallo Wines, Southern and Diageo, Sysco, Shamrock, Performance, Altius Farms, Seattle Fish Company, Grower’s Organic, US Foods, and Denver Food Rescue.

 

The program is fluid and will be expanding based on demand, but for now, meals can be picked up at the locations below between ***12 p.m. and 2 p.m.*** Monday, Wednesday and Friday (social distancing will be enforced).

 

Please bring any form of identification and proof of past restaurant/bar/hospitality employment. Meals will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis until they run out.

 

Avanti F&B, 3200 Pecos Street
Quiero Arepas, 1859 S. Pearl Street
Olivia, 290 S. Downing Street
Il Posto, 2601 Larimer Street
American Elm, 4132 W 38th Avenue
Highland Tap & Burger (Sloan’s Lake), 1565 N. Raleigh Street

It is easy for anyone in Colorado to get involved and support Operation Family Meal:

– Financial donations. Donations to help expand the program and cover costs can be taken through CHOW (bit.ly/33K1bu9)
– Donating to-go packaging
– Offering food donations
– Staffing meal pick-up locations
– Lending commissary kitchen use
– Volunteering

 

“It is critical to nourish the mind, body, and soul during a crisis,” said John Hinman, owner of Hinman’s Bakery and Founder of CHOW. “Our hope is that this program will ease the stress and fears around this unprecedented situation and provide impacted restaurant workers with a sense of family during such a difficult time.”

 

To support this program, CHOW will be starting weekly online meetings via Zoom with professional therapist Heather Lundy from Khesed Wellness. 

 is a mental health 501(c)3 and will provide free direct video/phone mental health therapy services to those out of work during this time.

 

For more information, visit https://www.chowco.org.

For inquiries about general questions about Operation Family Meal, please contact info@operationfamilymeal.com.

If you are an impacted employee looking for free mental health resources related to COVID-19, please contact John@chowco.org.