Philly Restaurants Contribute to Election Day Efforts by Feeding Poll Workers
In a typical election year, Philadelphia faces shortages of poll workers, the people who dedicate their time on Election Day to sit at a polling place for 14 hours and guide voters through the process.
“If incentivizing people with a free lunch adds enough cool factor to this civic duty, then hey, we’ll make 300,000 burritos if that’s what it takes,”
Philly Restaurants Contribute to Election Day Efforts by Feeding Poll Workers
“If incentivizing people with a free lunch adds enough cool factor to this civic duty, then hey, we’ll make 300,000 burritos if that’s what it takes,” McLaughlin said in a press release. “I’m even prouder to be part of an industry with friends who not only care as much as they do, but who, when asked to help, will always show up.”
He teamed up with Power the Polls, a national initiative helping state and city governments recruit poll workers. Power the Polls is funding McLaughlin’s project, which he’s calling Fuel the Polls, by covering food costs for the participating restaurants.
So far, Pizzeria Beddia, Middle Child, Martha, Mike’s BBQ, Essen Bakery, Kalaya, Bing Bing Dim Sum/Cheu Noodle Bar, Laser Wolf, and Bunny Hop, a food-based mutual aid group in West Philly, are signed on, as well as Oyster House (McLaughlin opened Mission Taqueria, located upstairs from Oyster House, with Oyster House owner Sam Mink). McLaughlin is in the process of getting more restaurants on board.
Last November, McLaughlin hosted a chef-led potluck for Friendsgiving, serving 180 customers and raising more than $30,000 for the non-profit Food Trust. With that type of holiday gathering out of the question for this year’s Thanksgiving, McLaughlin said he’s focusing on Election Day instead.
“I’m channeling all of my Friendsgiving energy into Fuel the Polls this year,” he said in a statement. “In 2020, preserving our democracy is paramount, and there’s no better way to preserve our democracy than by taking part in it.”
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