Employees, please come here to find updates and information on relief, resources, and status updates. We know this is a really hard time for everyone, and I know internet connectivity is still an issue.
Update 10/8/24: Internet is on at North.
Wi-fi hours will be from 11am-1pm. Please stay out on the patio, except to use the restroom, as the kitchen is a very busy place.
There is an additional grant listed below, from The Giving Kitchen.
Update 10/10/24: Update on Sedera Health - if you were enrolled in Sedera previously, your benefits HAVE NOT changed.
Unintentional Consequence: Your FSA debit card will not work currently. We are actively working on getting this fixed.
My phone number is 757-717-1509. My email address is sean@thescheffergroup.com. Please text me if you need assistance with any of this, if you can.
Family Meal
As of 10/4/24, Family Meal will be served at Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian at 641 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville NC 28804, at 1pm. All employees and immediate family are welcome. There is a steady stream of additional resources (hygenic materials, clothing, water, etc.) available as well.
Unemployment
You should file for unemployment immediately. YOU SHOULD APPLY FOR BOTH STATE AND DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT.
https://www.des.nc.gov/individuals/apply-ui
Important: Your last day worked is actually your last day that you clocked in. Do not just put Thursday 9/26. We saw during COVID that a lot of people put March 17th because it’s the day that all restaurants closed, but the Unemployment Office came back later to garnish wages because they didn’t work a couple of days before that.
FEMA Disaster Relief
You should apply for FEMA disaster relief immediately.
www.disastersassistance.gov or 1(800)621-3362
This will help you offset your disaster related expenses (food, water, clothing, generators, chainsaws, etc.). Keep all of your receipts indefinetely. You may need them for reimbursement, and you may need them if you are audited later.
Additional Guidance about FEMA Relief (I stole this from a Reddit Page, I am not a FEMA expert nor representative. Please do your own individual research.)
One of the questions that FEMA will ask when you register is “Do you have emergency needs?” This means during your evacuation or since staying at home during the disaster, do you need help with gas, medication, food, shelter, clothing, or durable medical equipment. If this is true, say YES to this question. That will result in your receiving Displacement/Critical Needs Assistance, which is $750
When asked if your home is/was accessible, answer “NO” if there was debris, tree branches, continued flooding, loss of power, damage, or destruction that prevented you from staying there after Helene. This question is asking whether you can stay at your home or apartment and wil trigger the ability for you to receive assistance to pay for hotels or provide funding to use while you stay with family or friends.
When asked if utilities are out, say YES even if your utilities were out for a few days. This triggers assistance money to stay somewhere other than your home or to buy fuel to power a generator.
When asked “Are you willing to relocate, say YES if you cannot live in your home due to damage, loss of power, etc. This question means you are willing to stay in a hotel or apartment temporarily, and triggers that funding for you. It is not asking if you are willing to move away from your home permanently.
If you bought or buy a generator, FEMA will reimburse you up to $629, but you must submit the receipt. If you bought a chainsaw, FEMA will reimburse you up to $219. Again, you need to provide the receipt. Save your receipts.
Additional Relief
Southern Smoke Foundation is providing grants to F&B Employees.
https://southernsmoke.org/emergency-relief/
You will need:
Name and backround details
A few sentences to help understand why you’re applying and the challenges you’re facing (missing work, property damage, loss of family, etc.)
Employmnet verification including paystubs (you can access this on Paychex, and we can also assist you.)
Supporting documentation like utility statements, receipts, etc.
Lantern Health
If you were enrolled in Lantern Health, your membership is taken care of through October. Lantern Health is open for virtual appointments as of 10/2/24, and plans to be open for in-office on Monday, 10/7/24. CN
NC Hospitality Worker’s Relief Fund
https://www.ncrla.org/foundation/nc-hospitality-workers-relief-fund/nc-hospitality-workers-relief-fund-application/
NCRLA is providing up to $1.5 million of relief to F&B employees impacted by Helene.
The Giving Kitchen Hospitality Worker’s Relief Grant
https://thegivingkitchen.org/financial-assistanceStatus of the Restaurants
This situation is extremely fluid. Please take everything here with a grain of salt.
All restaurants currently have power. There was no property damage to any of our restaurants.
Vinnie’s South is being contracted by a disaster relief organization for at least the next 16 days, up to 30.
Vinnie’s North is working with World Central Kitchen for the next (most likely) 30 days. There will be a small crew that will be individually contacted to help execute these meals.
Jettie Rae’s is working with World Central Kitchen starting next week. There will be a small crew that will be individually contacted to help execute these meals.
Gan Shan West is on hold.
Espanol
Empleados, vengan aquí para encontrar actualizaciones e información sobre ayuda, recursos y actualizaciones de estado. Sabemos que este es un momento realmente difícil para todos y sé que la conectividad a Internet sigue siendo un problema.
Una vez que uno de nuestros restaurantes tenga energía, le brindaremos acceso durante el día para su uso.
Mi número de teléfono es 757-717-1509. Mi dirección de correo electrónico es sean@thescheffergroup.com. Por favor envíame un mensaje de texto si necesitas ayuda con algo de esto, si puedes.Comida Familiar
A partir del 4/10/24, la comida familiar se servirá en Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian en 641 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville NC 28804, a la 1 p.m.
Desempleo
Debe solicitar el desempleo de inmediato.
https://www.des.nc.gov/individuals/apply-ui
Importante: Su último día trabajado es en realidad el último día en el que registró su ingreso. No coloque simplemente el jueves 26 de septiembre. Vimos durante el COVID que mucha gente puso el 17 de marzo porque es el día en que todos los restaurantes cerraron, pero la Oficina de Desempleo volvió más tarde para embargar los salarios porque no trabajaron un par de días antes.
Ayuda en casos de desastre de FEMA
Debe solicitar ayuda en caso de desastre de FEMA de inmediato.
www.disastersassistance.gov o 1(800)621-3362
Esto le ayudará a compensar sus gastos relacionados con el desastre (alimentos, agua, ropa, generadores, motosierras, etc.). Guarde todos sus recibos indefinidamente. Es posible que los necesite para un reembolso y es posible que los necesite si lo auditan más adelante.Alivio adicional
Southern Smoke Foundation ofrece subvenciones a empleados de F&B.
https://southernsmoke.org/emergency-relief/
Necesitarás:
Nombre y detalles de procedencia.
Algunas frases para ayudarle a comprender por qué presenta la solicitud y los desafíos que enfrenta (falta de trabajo, daños a la propiedad, pérdida de familiares, etc.)
Verificación de Employmnet, incluidos recibos de pago (puede acceder a esto en Paychex y también podemos ayudarlo).
Documentación de respaldo como declaraciones de servicios públicos, recibos, etc.
Salud de la linterna
Si estaba inscrito en Lantern Health, su membresía se mantendrá hasta octubre. Lantern Health está abierto para citas virtuales a partir del 2/10/24 y planea estar abierto para citas en la oficina el lunes 7/10/24. CN
Fondo de ayuda para trabajadores hoteleros de Carolina del Norte
https://www.ncrla.org/foundation/nc-hospitality-workers-relief-fund/nc-hospitality-workers-relief-fund-application/
La NCRLA está proporcionando hasta $1,5 millones de ayuda a los empleados de F&B afectados por Helene.
Estado de los Restaurantes
Esta situación es extremadamente fluida. Por favor, tómalo todo con cautela.
Actualmente todos los restaurantes tienen electricidad. No hubo daños materiales en ninguno de nuestros restaurantes.
Vinnie's South está siendo contratado por una organización de ayuda en casos de desastre durante al menos los próximos 16 días, hasta 30.
Vinnie's North está trabajando con World Central Kitchen durante los próximos (muy probablemente) 30 días. Habrá un pequeño equipo al que se contactará individualmente para ayudar a ejecutar estas comidas.
El de Jettie Rae está en espera.
Gan Shan West está en espera.