Buzz

Guy Fieri and Rachael Ray are donating money, time to help the industry

By now the numbers might be familiar: 10 million people have applied for unemployment, billions of dollars have been lost in the restaurant industry, and food banks are struggling to meet demand. Among those trying to bring attention to these crises are Food Network stars Guy Fieri and Rachael Ray.

Through the Rachael Ray Foundation and her Yum-o! organization, Ray will be donating $2 million to organizations like World Central Kitchen, City Harvest, and the National Restaurant Association. She will also be donating $2 million to various animal welfare charities. “My overall goal with these donations is to support American families affected during the Covid-19 crisis with assistance for two-legged and four-legged family members,” she said in a press release.

Fieri has also partnered with the National Restaurant Association to raise $100 million for its employee relief fund, which will distribute $500 grants to eligible applicants. “I’ve been in the restaurant business my whole life. This is all I know,” he told the Washington Post, “As soon as this happened and the restaurants started closing, I looked at my wife and said, ‘What are all these people going to do?’ ” As of last week, the fund had reached $10 million.

While both Ray and Fieri are showing great. commendable generosity during this crisis, the need for their help greatly underscores how little most people are supported by unemployment insurance or other federal benefits.