Bear Chase Brewing has teamed up to support restaurant workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by becoming a food bank resource— and currently is seeking donations to keep it going.
“We have done it two times now and had a great turnout and would love to do this again,” said Chris Suarez, general manager of the brewery.
The pop-up initiative, known as Bear Chase Helps, is for anyone who brings a pay stub from a restaurant and a grocery bag to fill with free groceries. The two recent events were held in the spacious tasting room at Bear Chase Brewery in Bluemont, and is a collaborative effort with Sysco, Pale Fire Brewing, and Digital Minerva.
According to Suarez, employees from 40 different restaurants showed up to the most recent pop-up. The goal is to raise $10,000 and anyone can donate on the website, Bear Chase Helps. Suarez said he hopes to host a few more rounds of free groceries to help restaurant workers until the stay-at-home order is lifted.
The idea began in Harrisonburg, the home of Sysco Virginia and of Pale Fire Brewing Company, where founder Tim Brady started the idea of Pale Fire Brewing Company Helps. Suarez said he jumped at the opportunity to get involved.
“I’m looking at my Facebook page and every day I have another friend that has lost their job,” said Suarez. “I’m very grateful that Bear Chase is not in that position just yet, although we have reduced our staffing levels significantly,” he said.
Visit BearChaseHelps.com to learn about the ways to get involved including to make a monetary donation.
As of April 17, the GoFundMe page has raised $2,425 of the $10,000 goal.
Bear Chase Brewing is located at 33665 Bear Chase Lane, in Bluemont.
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