By Allison Rhodes
Recently unemployed workers in the San Antonio area who lost jobs relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will experience some relief through Get Shift Done for San Antonio, an initiative of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. With support from the USAA Foundation, Charles Butt and San Antonio’s COVID-10 Community Response Fund, Get Shift Done for San Antonio provides paid opportunities for positions at local food banks and supply organizations that are experiencing an increased demand for assistance. The Get Shift Done for San Antonio initiative hires workers, predominantly from the hospitality industry, at $13 an hour to provide meals for families and individuals in need who’ve been impacted by COVID-19.
The San Antonio Food Bank, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Haven for Hope are using the Get Shift Done workers to pack, deliver or prepare meals to those in need.
“Our food bank went from feeding 60,000 people a week to 120,000 people a week in the COVID-19 crisis,” said Eric Cooper, president and chief executive officer of the San Antonio Food Bank. “Get Shift Done is helping us fill a gap between our thinning volunteer support and the spike in the hunger relief need within our community.”
“Get Shift Done is providing us workers to serve meals to those who need them among our three locations,” said Kenny Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Haven for Hope. “With the help of the Get Shift Done workers and our volunteers, Haven for Hope and our partners, the San Antonio Food Bank and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, continue to feed the homeless on our campus, in the courtyard and at a converted vacant hotel.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 100,000 unemployed hospitality workers in San Antonio. Texas is also ranked second in the nation for food insecurity with one in six living in food insecure homes, according to the San Antonio Food Bank.
Patrick Brandt, Co-founder of Get Shift Done and President of Shiftsmart says, “We still are seeing a large displaced workforce in San Antonio so Get Shift Done for San Antonio is continuing to provide support to those affected by COVID-19 and are in need of supplemental income as well as those experiencing food insecurity.”
The Get Shift Done for San Antonio initiative has 1,200 registered workers using the Shiftsmart app who, to date, have worked 8,961 shifts. United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County continues to accept donations in an effort to expand its offerings to local displaced workers.
“We are grateful for the work United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, local food banks and food supply organizations, as well as Get Shift Done for San Antonio workers are doing to help the community,” says Anurag Jain, Co-founder of Get Shift Done, Chairman of Access Healthcare, Managing Partner of Perot Jain, and Chairman Emeritus of North Texas Food Bank.
Recently unemployed workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic interested in learning more about the employment opportunities provided by this initiative may do so at this link.
For more information or to support this fund, go to getshiftdone.org/san-antonio or getshiftdone.org.
About Get Shift Done
The Get Shift Done model provides direct income to unemployed food and service industry workers while providing skilled shift work to food banks and other nonprofits providing critical resources for hunger relief. Get Shift Done workers are people who know food helping people who need food. For more information, visit getshiftdone.org.
About Shiftsmart
Shiftsmart is a worker-centric online marketplace that connects today’s dynamic workforce with companies facing increasingly complex staffing requirements. By empowering workers with more hours, better pay, and greater opportunity, Shiftsmart creates a mutually beneficial labor ecosystem. With Shiftsmart, workers build income, skills, and experience to become true micro-entrepreneurs. Companies can manage their own workforces and increase labor fulfillment with fast, convenient access to a large, always-connected global labor pool. Communities reduce poverty, increase productivity, and lower income volatility. Powered by cutting-edge technology, Shiftsmart executes shifts in 20 countries for leading edge employers including Google, Airbnb, HP, Chick-fil-A, and Deloitte. Shift how you work. Shift how you hire. Shift how jobs get done. shiftsmart.com.
About United Way
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County focuses on preparing children for school and life, helping students graduate and succeed, strengthening the well-being of individuals and families, and providing safety net services (food, clothing, shelter, and emergency care.) United Way also operates the 2-1-1 Help Line and fosters volunteerism through the Volunteer Center at United Way.
