From the Editor

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’

- Mister Rogers

ASHLEY BRAY, Editor I n this issue, you’ll find articles about the way COVID-19 has and will change our industry, guidelines for reopening, and technology and products to help make operating easier. You can also find a bevy of COVID-19 related resources on our dedicated web channel: barbizmag.com/covid19-resources. It’s updated multiple times a day to bring you news on the ever-changing situation we find ourselves in.

Here, I’d like to focus on an organization doing good in our industry at a time when we need it most. You’re probably familiar with the Mister Rogers quote at left that gets circulated any time a tragedy occurs. Perhaps it’s a bit hackneyed, maybe a little juvenile, but in these times I don’t think there’s any fault in reaching for easy-todigest platitudes to make ourselves feel just a bit better.

The “helper” I have in mind is the USBG National Charity Foundation (USBGNCF), which runs the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program (BEAP) COVID-19 Relief Campaign that supports bartenders experiencing emergency hardships and situations. At press time, the fund has received over $8 million in donations and over 295,000 applications. It’s distributed $4 million in grants ranging from $150- $500, and that number is growing rapidly.

Every Thursday at 3pm EST, USBG National Charity Foundation Board Member and Director Kim Haasarud hosts a live update on the program on the Foundation’s Instagram (@USBGNCF) page. I’d like to recap some of the advice Haasarud has provided to the bartending community about how to apply and FROM THE EDITOR increase your chances of acceptance.

First, make sure to read the FAQs for applicants on USBGNCF’s site before applying so you know what information to include on the application. Tax return information is important for verifying things like employment, occupation, and number of dependents, and Haasarud said it’s fine to submit 2018 returns.

Many applications have been turned down due to being incomplete, but Haasarud says they shouldn’t be viewed as outright rejections. In fact, applications that have been rejected because of ineligibility is less than 1%.

If it turns out your application was incomplete, feel free to apply again. Haasarud also says that if an applicant’s situation has worsened since the start of the pandemic or their first application, and they were rejected, to apply again. 500 volunteers have been vetting applications, and the process has sped up recently. “Our volunteers are getting into the groove and screening applications at a much faster rate,” says Haasarud.

I hope you’re staying well. Reach out if there’s something you’d like to see covered in Bar Business Magazine. As always, our goal is to continue to be a valued resource for you and your establishments at this time.

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