Fundraisers Continue to Pop Up for Employees at Local Eateries

Editor’s note: Are you a restaurant in the Vienna, Falls Church, Tysons, Merrifield and McLean areas that has a fundraiser? Email us at [email protected].

As local eateries adjust to declining sales and people staying indoors, several have turned to fundraisers to help keep their doors open and employees paid.

Like last week, Tysons Reporter has rounded up GoFundMe pages for local restaurants. Here are the latest fundraisers:

Pulcinella, a McLean restaurant that serves up southern Italian cuisine, has started an employee relief fund. The restaurant is looking to raise $25,000.

“During these past few days, Pulcinella has had to face unthinkable challenges due to the global health crisis,” the GoFundMe page said. ‘Unfortunately, this has impacted our industry along with many others, very negatively.”

The manager at the Lost Dog Cafe in Tysons is looking to raise $2,500 to support the restaurant, which is known for its sandwiches, local history-themed murals and animal rescue.

“Our sister cause, Lost Dog and Cat rescue, gets a piece of the pie each time you stop by, which is why we’ve managed to find more than 30,000 animals a loving home,” the GoFundMe said.

Chris Lefbom and Adam Lubar of Vintage Restaurant Group are looking to raise $5,000 to assist employees at Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church.

The restaurant temporarily closed due to coronavirus concerns, along with Vienna-based Bear Branch Tavern, which is also a part of the Vintage Restaurant Group.

“All funds raised here will be distributed directly to our hourly employees — fairly and equally — based on full- and part-time employee status,” the GoFundMe said.

The manager of Ireland’s Four Provinces in Falls Church wants to raise $30,000 for the restaurant’s staff.

“Many of our employees depend entirely on tips earned from service; with that income gone, even the current gov’t relief measures won’t address some of their most immediate needs,” according to the GoFundMe page.

The restaurant’s owners have pledged to match donations up to $10,000, according to the GoFundMe.