When you reach out,
we reach back.
How We Help
Our organization was started by fellow F+B workers who’ve felt the heat of this industry firsthand. Injuries strike. Doors close. You never saw it coming. But you’re not out of options, and you’re not alone. We’re here to put dollars in your hand and restore peace to your mind.
Over the years, our nonprofit funds have been used to pay for essentials like groceries, clothing, and medications, the cost of rent, utilities, lost wages, and more. Our grants are available year-round, and applications must be submitted within six months of an unforeseen crisis. We want everyone to feel comfortable asking for help during difficult times.
How You Qualify
Applicants are eligible for funding once every 12 months and may receive funding twice within a four-year period. To qualify, you must currently be employed in the food and beverage industry, working a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least six months. Additionally, your unforeseen crisis must have occurred within the six months prior to your application date.
Types of crises include:
- Accident
- Illness or Injury
- Change of Circumstance
- Housing crisis
- Victim of crime or violence
- Natural disaster
If you have any doubts about whether you qualify, please email us at casemanagement@southernsmoke.org.
We understand that every situation is unique and may not be listed here. Are you a business owner, self-employed, or an agriculturalist providing goods or services for the food and beverage industry?
Info for you right here.
What We’ll Need From You
Help us advocate for you! The more details and documentation you share, the better we can assess your needs and build your case. Please be as specific as possible.
Our application requires:
- Contact information and household makeup – applications are anonymous to all but the case management team.
- A Statement of Need including a few sentences that explain your reason for applying and the challenges you are facing. Please describe any changes in your situation, the type of crisis you are experiencing, when it began, and what specific expenses you need help with.
- Employment information, including paystubs, to verify you meet our guidelines of working at least 30 hours per week with a six-month work history.
- Supporting documents like leases, doctors’ notes, eviction notices, medical bills, utility statements, and any of your other monthly expenses.
We understand the process can be daunting, and your Southern Smoke case manager is here to support you throughout. We only ask for what we need, and we do not share information or report to other agencies. This is a completely confidential process.
Need help finding the right documents?
What You Can Expect
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A kind person.
A caring human thoroughly considers every detail of requests. We build relationships with each applicant and stay in close communication throughout the process.
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Flexible funds.
Funds are scaled to fit each situation. Don’t be afraid to tell us what you need.
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Year-Round Assistance.
The Emergency Relief Fund is open year-round. Applications must be submitted within six months of the unforeseen crisis date. Eligible individuals and households can receive one grant every 12 months, and up to two grants in a four-year period. Deadlines for natural disasters are established based on impact.
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Help fast.
We provide funds as quickly as possible based on need and the collection of all necessary documentation and information. See the application timeline below.
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Total privacy.
The application process is completely anonymous. Only the Southern Smoke case management team will see an application in its entirety.
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Thoughtful guidance.
If you do not meet the qualifications to open a case, we will explain the reasons and inform you if or when you should reapply. We’ll also point you to additional trusted resources that can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
We work to assist F+B workers in various roles within the industry. Some eligible positions include chefs, line cooks, barbacks, bartenders, servers, food runners, general managers, dishwashers, and shift supervisors. It can also include farmers and ranchers who provide to food service establishments, distillery workers, vineyard workers, beverage distributors, winemakers, sommeliers… the list goes on. Southern Smoke Foundation was created to support everyone who makes this industry possible.
Yes!
We do not provide grants for business-related costs. Instead, we can assist individuals who own or operate F+B businesses with personal expenses if you have experienced an unforeseen crisis unrelated to your business. However, we determine the qualifying criteria based on your business. To ensure that your business meets our qualifications, we require proof of income and documentation that can help us verify your business. We also require all business owners to have been in operation for at least 12 months and must operate out of a commercial space.
Once we receive your application and verify the information provided, we will open a case for you. To apply for funding, you must provide the following required documents:
Employment information:
- Paystubs and/or any draws taken for the last twelve months
- If you directly transfer funds, we will need copies of your banking documents
Business documentation:
- EIN letter
- Most recent P&L (general)
- Most recent tax filing
- Business lease agreement
- Food handler’s license
- Proof of liability insurance
We are here for you. We grant funds as quickly as we can relative to the immediacy of the need and timeliness of receiving all necessary documents from the applicant. Please email casemanagement@southernsmoke.org for any questions or updates.
Yes, this is a very real need, especially in this industry. Through our mental health program, Behind You, we provide no-cost mental health counseling for F+B workers in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Those who live outside of the service states can apply for financial assistance for mental health crises through our Emergency Relief Fund (above).
Since 2015, we’ve distributed more than $14.5 million to an incredibly diverse and deserving group of F+B workers across the country. Take a look at our Impact Map.