Community Corner
How To Help Bucks County Hospitality Workers
During the coronavirus shutdown, workers at restaurants, theaters, hotels and the like have been among the hardest hit.
BUCKS COUNTY, PA — With restaurant doors locked, hotels empty and travel for pleasure strongly discouraged, the hospitality industry in Bucks County has taken a hard hit from the coronavirus shutdown.
Now, tourism officials in the county are trying the help shine a light on efforts to help workers in those industries through these tough times.
In addition to compiling a list of grants, loans and other resources for hospitality businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, Visit Buck County has put together a page of links to fundraising efforts for local workers hit by the shutdown.
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"Many local Bucks County businesses will be impacted by the economic devastation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic," Visit Bucks County said on its website.
Find out what's happening in Yardleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered on March 16 that all non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania be closed. All restaurants and bars were ordered to shut down their dine-in facilities and offer takeout and delivery only.
On March 23, Wolf issued a stay-at-home order for Bucks County and four other Philadelphia-area counties. During the order, residents are urged to stay home other than for life-sustaining trips like buying groceries or picking up prescriptions.
The economic impact in Pennsylvania has been harsh.
More than a half-million Pennsylvanians — 540,000 — filed new unemployment claims in the two weeks after the closure of non-essential businesses was ordered.
Before that, the highest number of new unemployment claims in an entire month in Pennsylvania had been 168,159, in January 2010.
Many of those hit hardest are in the hospitality industry — from hotel workers and restaurant waiters to actors and musicians to airport baggage handlers.
Here's a look at the fundraising efforts highlighted by Visit Bucks County:
- ActorsNET Fundraiser
- Bristol Riverside Theatre Fundraiser
- Broken Goblet Brewery Fundraiser
- Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund, sponsored by United Way of Bucks County and Penn Community Bank
- Bucks County Playhouse Fundraiser
- Mercer Museum Annual Fund
- Naked Brewing Co. Fundraiser
- PRLA Hospitality Assistance Response of PA (HARP)
- Vault Brewing Co., Pretty Bird Coffee Roasters & Kawaii Tori Fundraiser
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