The 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive in B.C.’s history with more than 2.84 million hectares of forest and land burned. Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate and now a year later many are still trying to recover.
While hundreds lost their homes, many also lost their businesses or saw significant financial loss due to the fires.
The Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund was created to help Canadian restaurants that have been affected by natural disasters get on the road to recovery.
These businesses that have been impacted by disasters such as fires, floods and extreme storms can apply for grants of $10,000 from DoorDash.
“When disaster strikes, the impact on small businesses can be devastating,” said Shilpa Arora, general manager, DoorDash Canada. “We believe that providing timely financial support can be a lifeline for local restaurants, helping them rebuild and continue to serve their communities.”
Several restaurants have already applied for funding and have received or will be receiving $10,000 in relief grants, including four businesses in the Okanagan.
The four Okanagan restaurants that have been affected by wildfires and are receiving funding are:
- Halfmoon Pizzeria, Kelowna
- Hot Pot Grill Authentic Indian Cuisine, Kelowna
- Mami’s Pizza, Osoyoos
- Jealous Pizza N Donair, Vernon
DoorDash will also be providing an additional $1 million in relief grants to restaurants in Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and Australia. The grants can help cover essential operation expenses such as rent, repairs for damages, mortgage payments, payroll, and other critical bills.
To qualify, restaurants must have a brick-and-mortar location, no more than three locations, fewer than 50 employees and have been open for at least six months prior to a province - or federally-declared natural disaster and have until May 30, 2025, to apply.
Since 2021, the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund has provided more than $1.8 million in relief grants to more than 180 restaurants.
