Uber Technologies : Supporting local restaurants—and workers—with Uber Eats

Millions of people in the food industry have been hurt by the COVID-19 crisis, with many losing their jobs as restaurants across the country close their dining rooms to guests-or shut their doors entirely.

That's why starting today, Uber Eats users in New York will be able to contribute to their favorite local restaurants directly from the app at checkout.

Uber will then match every contribution with a donation to theRestaurant Employee Relief Fundfor a total commitment of up to $5M for the group's important work.Among other things, the Relief Fund is providing $500 grants to eligible restaurant workers-including couriers working on delivery apps like Uber Eats-who have been hurt financially by the current crisis.

'The restaurant industry is being decimated by this virus, and it's going to take people helping people to get through it,' says Paul Barker, owner of Pauli's North End in Boston, MA, an Uber Eats partner. 'As business owners, my wife and I are focused on helping our staff put food on their tables. Efforts like Uber Eats' and Guy Fieri's with the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund are rising to the occasion-helping people to help the people in their communities when they need it most.'

Following a trial period in New York City, we hope to expand this feature across the United States next week, and into other countries soon after.

This new feature builds uponcommitments madeto our restaurant partners last month in the US, with a focus on driving increased demand towards independent restaurants, and making cash flow more reliable in these unprecedented times.

And communities are responding. In the US & Canada, we've seen a significant rise in orders to independent restaurants since mid-March as more customers look to support local businesses. Restaurants, working to keep delivery orders coming in during these times, have been signing up for Uber Eats as high as 10x previous rates.

Uber Eats' direct-to-restaurant contributions will serve as a new avenue for people to support their favorite local restaurants, and we are proud to match their contributions with donations to the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.

Join us in supporting local restaurants everywhere. For more information on the ways we are working with our industry partners during this time, visit ourrestaurant website.

Disclaimer: Contributions to restaurants are not tax deductible.