#AskChefsAnything: The New Campaign Raising Funds for Immigrant Food Service Workers

As you well know by now, the COVID pandemic absolutely brutalized the food service industry. Everything from restaurants to bars to packaging plants to distribution companies were majorly impacted, many having to shut down. While most people in the United States were able to get some form of government assistance, our immigrant communities, especially the undocumented ones, were not. Considering immigrants are the backbone of the food service industry (amongst plenty of other industries), this is a heartbreaking injustice.

Luckily there has been some help for them. The state of California made it possible for undocumented immigrants to receive COVID relief funds. And Guy Fieri raised money for undocumented workers. But still, far more has to be done.

That’s why the new #AskChefsAnything campaign is exciting. Launched by two New York startup founders and food industry veterans, Gaeleen Quinn and Anna Polonsky, it’s raising awareness and funds for the immigrant workforce of the food industry in cities across America.

According to the press release I just received:

The San Francisco auction is set to take place June 26-29 with 30-40 food & wine personalities to auction off a 30-min video conversation where participants can ask their favorite chef anything. Confirmed participants include Dominique Crenn, Gabriela Cámara, Tanya Holland, Kim Alter, Kyle and Katina Connaughton, David Nayfeld, Reem Assil, Pim Techamuanvivit, Brandon Jew, Melissa King, who won Bravo’s “Top Chef All Stars” last week, and more.

All profits from the San Francisco auction will benefit The Restaurant Opportunities Center of the Bay (ROC – The Bay).

These fundraising auctions have happened in cities all across the US, and between the NYC, Philly and LA events, they’ve been able to raise almost $100,000, thus enabling delivery to the equivalent of nearly 90,000 meals for those affected and out of work.

Learn more and take part in the #AskChefsAnything auction right here.