‘Off Their Plate’ movement helps support restaurant and health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic

BOSTON — Businesses and workers across the country have been scrambling to figure out how to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic while healthcare workers are working tirelessly to make sure they can help out as many people as possible.

One of the hardest-hit industries has been restaurants and bars, now only allowed to provide delivery or takeout options.

That’s where the “Off Their Plate” movement came from - a group of restaurant workers who have been without a job have come together to get back in the kitchen while also giving back.

Tracy Chang, the owner of Pagu restaurant in Cambridge, now helps run the initiative, an idea that came from one of her customers.

“It’s been very rewarding for sure and just wonderful to come into the restaurant," said Chang. “I realize that there is this need to feed health care workers and there is a way to connect financing with restaurants to restore wages to furloughed employees who can make meals for these health care workers working on the front lines in the emergency departments.”

The concept is simple - people can donate through Off Their Plate’s website and the money goes toward the meals and bringing back employees to make them.

“It’s April first and people are paying rent and so if we can help these employees pay rent they are coming in they are laughing they are cooking," said Chang.

Even better, the meals are given to health care workers for free to thank them for all their hard work.

Chang also reminded customers there are other ways you can help restaurants, beyond ordering takeout.

“Restaurants are hurting, this is something that we have never experienced before and the best way to help restaurants is to buy gift cards and contribute if they have an employee relief fund. If they have that, contribute to that because that goes directly to the employees," said Chang.

Several non-profits are also helping out the initiative, which has expanded to several cities from New York to Los Angeles.

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