Governors in states across the country have ordered the closure of bars and restaurant dining rooms to the public in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. In almost all cases, especially locally, carry-out and delivery are OK and encouraged.
But those restrictions are obviously having an economic impact on restaurants both big and small. And that's where the nationwide The Great American Takeout initiative comes in.
This movement is asking people to purchase a meal for carry-out or delivery from their favorite spot on March 24 to "show support for the struggling restaurant community," says a press release.
Organized by national chains including Panera Bread, Noodles & Company, Jason's Deli and more, the goal remains the same for all eateries.
"This is no longer about the survival of individual restaurants," said Russ Bendel, CEO of The Habit Burger Grill — one of the organizers — in a press release. "It's about the future of our industry. And time has run out. Together, we must act to support each other and our communities in unprecedented ways."
During the event, patrons are being asked to share photos of their delivery or carry-out meal on social media with the hashtag #thegreatamericantakeout.
Here's our ever-expanding (but not comprehensive) list of local spots offering carry-out and delivery. But you can also take to twitter via the hashtag to find others.
