Service Workers Coalition is a grassroots Mutual Aid Fund, and now incorporated Non-Profit Organization, that has mobilized to respond the the evolving needs of laid off hospitality workers throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The central action of SWC is grocery stipends.The fund offers $50 a week grocery stipends to any out of work service industry workers, and $100 a week to those who are undocumented or cannot access Unemployment Insurance. We also offer delivery of those supplies if a worker is quarantined for any reason, or does not have access to a bank account, which is needed for wire transfer of the stipend.

In the last five months SWC has raised just over 150k and sent out grocery stipends to over 1,750 New Yorkers, some for nearly every week of the crisis. What has been incredibly moving is that this money was raised primarily in 5-20 dollar weekly donations, largely from people within the industry. As time went on and some service workers gained access to UI benefits we saw many who received the stipend turn around and paid it forward when they could.

We have been able to sustain this fund with the help of our restaurant community with weekly raffles with donated prizes from restaurant workers and owners as well as several grants from community minded organizations. We are launching this campaign to encourage large donations to help us sustain this fund and our community through the duration of this pandemic. Ioby will be acting as our fiscal sponsor and will be able to provide tax deductions. We will continue accepting donations through our Venmo @bkservicecoaltion and follow us here under the updates tab as well as on our Instagram page @serviceworkerscoaltion. We thank you for your continued support!