December 15, 2020 – Washington Co., Wi – The local restaurant community across Washington County is struggling to keep its doors open during the current situation.
Businesses like The Precinct Tap + Table in Germantown are creating meals daily and working with non-profits to deliver the food to senior citizens in need.
Owner and chef Jodi Janisse-Kanzenbach said, “Even though, as a restaurant, these are difficult times I need to keep my employees busy.”
On Thanksgiving Day, The Precinct donated 41 meals to senior citizens and it is continuing its effort with a 12 Days of Christmas program.
“We are accepting donations so we can provide 15 meals per day for senior citizens in Washington County,” she said.
The minimum donation is $20 per meal with a goal of raising $3,600 by mid-December.
At the Washington County Courthouse employees are ordering lunch from local restaurants on a weekly basis.
A half-dozen county restaurants are participating in the program. On the first Wednesday delivery, the Chocolate Factory increased a normal lunch business by 33%. The next week, Pudgie’s Food Truck sold enough to match a normal lunch event. West Bend’s Pizza Ranch saw dozens of county employees purchase lunches.
Now, in the fourth week, Hartford’s Perc Place sold 70 lunches, which will be delivered Wednesday afternoon.
“I’ve spoken to well over 100 business owners in Washington County,” said Washington County executive Josh Schoemann. “By far restaurant, tavern, hospitality and lodging industries are suffering the most. One young restaurant owner, in tears, told me she was looking to sell her cars and mortgage her house because failure was not an option. Washington County cannot let our local businesses die.”
The county’s IT department created an ordering program for employees. The county will offer the code to any major business looking to begin a similar program.
Schoemann is looking to expand the program in 2021 and add more businesses. Area businesses should contact his office at 262-306-2200 or county.exec@washcowisco.gov to partner with the county.
