March 29, 2020 — Richmond, VA —
Ardent Craft Ales, a Scott’s Addition-based brewery, is teaming up with Sysco, The Holli Fund, and Digital Minerva <Web / Marketing> for Ardent Helps, a food bank resource inspired by Harrisonburg-based Pale Fire Brewery’s “Pale Fire Helps” to support restaurant workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
In order to respect Governor Northam’s directive regarding social distancing, the food bank will be taking all orders online at www.ardenthelpsrva.com. Orders will be packed and made available for pick-up the next business day at Ardent Craft Ales’s taproom at 3200 West Leigh Street in Scott’s Addition. Ardent Helps will begin accepting orders on Monday, March 30, for pick-ups beginning on Tuesday, March 31, during the hours of 2-8pm. Orders may be placed seven days a week, with pick-up times scheduled during our operating hours of 2-8pm on Tuesday-Sunday. A variety of perishable and non-perishable items donated by Sysco will be available. Participants are asked to show their most recent pay stub to confirm eligibility upon pick-up the following day. Responsible sanitation and social distancing measures will be followed at all times.
The restaurant industry has been decimated by the COVID-19 virus and our country’s need to close or restrict public gathering spaces. Thousands of restaurant workers in Richmond and the surrounding area have been laid-off or furloughed from their jobs, or are suffering from reduced hours. For many, the crisis has led to a total loss of income with little warning. Ardent Helps was created to help our restaurant community members during this emergency.
Restaurant workers can learn more at www.ardenthelpsrva.com. The website was created and is being hosted and maintained by Digital Minerva, a Harrisonburg agency who donated their services to the program.
The food bank will only be available to restaurant industry workers. Participation is not limited to Richmond residents and all restaurant workers are welcome to place orders and pick up goods. Participants are asked to avoid stockpiling and take only what they immediately need. The program will last as long as we can safely continue to operate and donated items are available.
Ardent is also accepting both shelf-stable food donations to support this program and monetary donations to directly benefit affected restaurant workers via grants from The Holli Fund. You can learn more about how you can help at www.ardenthelpsrva.com. Ardent’s taproom will remain open to the general public for to-go beer and merchandise purchases.
Press contact:
Ryan Kelly
(703) 402-9744
ryan@ardentcraftales.com