Restaurant Stabilization and Meal Distribution Initiative #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines A Lifeline For Over A Dozen Businesses in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Stockton

Expansion to East Coast In the Works as Pandemic Continues for Second Year

San Francisco, CA - January 26, 2021 - Filipinos Feed The Frontlines — a meal distribution & restaurant stabilization initiative by Kultivate Labs — launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in response to the impact the pandemic wrought on the local Filipino San Francisco community. A partnership of local chefs, restaurateurs, small businesses and community organizations (SOMCAN, West Bay, United Playaz), launched the project and successfully  raised over $149,000 from 1,314 donors, feeding 12,966 Frontline Health Workers & Scientists, & Communities Battling Covid-19.

The funds raised by the campaign helped stabilize and boost the revenue streams of Bay Area chefs and restaurateurs, such as SSF Chickenbox, Sarap Shop, Ox & Tiger, Chef Reina, Senor Sisig, the Lumpia Company, and others who have all been impacted by the pandemic and shelter in place mandates. After facing potential business closure, serial restaurateurs Jason Angeles and Ronnie Taylor, partners in several Bay Area businesses (SSF Chickenbox, IVSF Catering, Frozen Kuhsterd, Sugar & Spun, Churreria SF and Love Burn), turned a corner and donated over $25k dollars to the #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines campaign.

“We are Filipino owned businesses that were held up by our Filipino community during the tough first few months of SIP [Shelter In Place]. Now it’s our turn to return the favor to our community,” says Jefferson Award winners and #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines partners Jason Angeles and Ronnie Taylor, “This is how we get back out of this, together. We’ll be better equipped to build and thrive in the new normal.”

#FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines also expanded to service the Los Angeles and Stockton areas through their Filipino cultural districts, Historic Filipinotown and Little Manila respectively. In addition to supporting frontline workers and local businesses, #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines collaborated with artists and businesses such as Bayani Art, ADAPT Clothing, The Park’s Finest and other influencers, to create exclusive collaboration merchandise that helps the campaign’s fundraising efforts. 

The project also amplified the alarming rate of Filipino healthcare workers being impacted by COVID-19 early on in the pandemic, garnering attention from the New York Times, amongst other news outlets. One study, cited by the New York Times, found that of nurses who died from Covid-19, Filipinos accounted for almost a third of them-- despite only making up 4% of nurses nationwide.

Although most donations come from everyday people, in exchange for perks like shirts, masks, and totes, #FilipinosFeedsTheFrontlines has also received grants from the San Francisco Foundation, Wells Fargo, Brookfield, Westfield, Kilroy Realty, Alexandria, Union Bank, and a few anonymous donors. 

“Going into a second year of the pandemic, we know the road back to recovery is going to be long. Both restaurants, frontline workers, and vulnerable communities need this program to survive.” shares Aaron Orcino, #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines Program Manager. “We’re actively working with our Los Angeles partners at SIPA to create a playbook for program expansion not only in Historic Filipinotown, but across the country where there are other Filipino communities, in places like Queens, Brooklyn and Virginia Beach."

”We are also planning a series of webinars, in partnership with SOMCAN (somcan.org), that will teach participants how to create healthy dishes based on classic Filipino flavors. We will feature local Filipino chefs and food influencers as hosts of the program and will be broadcasting out of Republika (republikasf.com), our new livestreaming hub and business incubator that is located on 863 Mission St., in the heart of SoMa Pilipinas.”

For more information on #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines and ways to support the campaign or get involved, visit filipinosfeedthefrontlines.org. 

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About Kultivate Labs:

Kultivate Labs is a Non-profit Economic Development and Arts Organization. We create thriving commercial ecosystems by accelerating businesses that preserve culture and community. We provide space and opportunities for the arts to flourish so that commercial activities are activated and reflect the community at large.

About #FilipinosFeedTheFrontlines:

An alliance of Filipino food businesses and like-minded individuals and organizations banding together to provide meals to heal our community. www.filipinosfeedthefrontlines.com