While restaurants may find themselves busier than they have been in well over a year, their employees are also dealing with many of the same industry problems that existed before the pandemic, but magnified by the sudden surge in business. Financial stability, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse have all been dangers associated with the hospitality industry, and I’ve shared how organizations like Giving Kitchen have worked tirelessly to raise funds and offer assistance for workers in need.
Another initiative created to aid restaurant workers is Washington-based Big Table, a nonprofit that works to build community and offer assistance to hospitality professionals in Spokane, Seattle, San Diego and now Nashville. Big Table is not some sort of “hotline,” preferring to work on a referral basis. The idea is that when a manager or worker at a restaurant or bar sees a fellow employee in crisis, they can submit a personal referral to Big Table. The limited safety net available to hospitality workers means that they are very vulnerable to falling through the cracks when confronted with financial difficulties that can often be exacerbated by depression, substance abuse or other personal struggles.
Big Table takes the referrals and then reaches out directly with referrals of people who want to help. These can be doctors or dentists, mental health professionals, lawyers or something as simple as a goodhearted mechanic who will volunteer to fix a worker’s sole means of transportation to and from work. Basically, whatever it takes to immediately keep someone from falling off the ledge.
After the initial assistance that hopefully gets the referred worker back on his or her feet, Big Table continues to walk alongside them, investing in long-term coaching and connecting them with mentors. The organization says that they have seen that the ongoing encouragement and accountability is the most important part of the entire aid process.
Now that they’ve officially opened their new Nashville office, Big Table has hired Jen Seger as Nashville’s City Director. Seger brings 10 years of direct care leadership at Christ Presbyterian Church and says she is “Thrilled to be able to tangibly improve people’s lives in such an intentional and relational way while strategically impacting the entire community at the same time. Big Table is going to deeply impact Nashville in so many ways.”
“We are excited to build a local movement of people and care partners who are aware of the critical levels of need in the Nashville restaurant and hospitality industry and are ready to join the movement to serve hope,” explains Kevin Finch, Big Table Executive Director.
Big Table has brought some local hospitality professionals on board as local advisors and has forged relationships with businesses who are willing to help out with serving those referred for assistance. Big Table will begin accepting resumes for a care engagement coordinator and office and events coordinator shortly, and has officially opened up for referrals on their website.
Local restaurants are encouraged to investigate Big Table and keep their referral services in mind if they see an employee in crisis. Local diners can help out as well by taking part in the organization’s “Unexpected 20s” program. This is an initiative where diners can order small envelopes from Big Table and fill them with a folded $20 bill to slip to someone who looks like they could use a boost. This isn’t intended to be a tip; it’s strictly a gift. It’s hard to overestimate the value of offering a simple kindness to someone who needs it at the exact right moment with no strings attached. I keep a few of those envelopes in my wallet, and I can promise that it does a lot for my psyche to hand one out every now and then. Plus it’s pretty much the main reason I bother to carry cash anymore.
Welcome Big Table to town, and please check out their site to discover more ways you can help out or for what services they offer that might be valuable to you or someone you know.
