As COVID-19 ravages N.S. hospitality industry, some establishments helping people in need

Despite dire times for Nova Scotia's hospitality industry, some establishments are switching gears during the COVID-19 pandemicto help community groups that providehelp to clients in need.

In Dartmouth, acclaimed restaurant The Canteenhas transitioned its cooking space into a community kitchen to help the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre and Margaret's House (Feeding Others of Dartmouth Society), which areorganizations thatfeedpeople who can't afford to eat healthy meals.

The Canteen will prepare between300 to 400 meals a week for these groups beginning Monday.

"This was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to really step up when it counts the most," said Doug Townsend, who owns The Canteen with his wife,Rene Lavalle.

Like many restaurants, The Canteen had to make the difficult decision to lay off most of its 30-person team because of COVID-19.

About 24,500 food service jobs have been lost in Nova Scotia's restaurant industry because of the pandemic.

"Rene and I believe that to get through this thing, it's all about people caring for each other and looking out for one another," Townsend said.

In Halifax, revenues forThe Good Robot Brewing Company have dropped 80-90 per cent since COVID-19 hit Nova Scotia. The brewery has had to lay off most of its staff and has transitioned its business model to e-commerce and takeout and delivery.

Before the pandemic shut down dine-in establishments and bars, the brewery was already helping non-profit organizations through its Goodwill Bot initiative.

Every Monday, the brewery would host an awareness and fundraising event for a non-profit.A dollar from every pint sold in the taproom during these events would be donated to the non-profit. In four years, more than $60,000 was raised.

"Obviously that incentive went down the toilet a couple of weeks ago when we closed our public spaces," said Joshua Counsil, a founder of Good Robot.

But the program is coming back this week in a different form.

$1 from every purchase on Mondays going to non-profit

StartingMonday, $1 from everyonline, takeout and delivery order on that day of the week will go toward helping a non-profit.

This week's beneficiary isAdsum for Women and Children, a Halifax shelter.

Counsil saidColin Smith, Good Robot's goodwill ambassador, came up with the idea to help Adsum.

"With everyone trapped inside ...one of my friends mentioned they were concerned about cases of domestic violence increasing in this climate, and sure enough they have," Counsil said.

"Especially where Adsumisproviding a physical space, a safe space for people ... they seem to be in extra need."

When COVID-19 began leading to the closure of establishments, Counsil said his first thought was about "how to stop my own ship from sinking." But he said helping out an organization like Adsum puts everything into perspective.

"There are people who are doubling down on their already generous nature, so I'm personally inspired by the folks at Adsum because they are continuing to give without asking," he said.