COVID-19 fears have forced a lot of bars and restaurants to close across the Mountain West. That leaves workers in a tough spot. But some communities have found a creative way for would-be customers to chip in.
It鈥檚 called a virtual tip jar, which is essentially a Google spreadsheet listing the names and workplaces of hundreds of struggling service workers. Next to their names is a way to tip them through apps like Venmo and Paypal.
Tyler Brewington, a former service industry worker and current freelancer, started a as he watched closures there have huge impacts on people鈥檚 lives.
At first, he thought he could help by buying gift cards and getting food to go, 鈥渂ut with restaurants that have transitioned to to-go orders and curb-side pickup only, there鈥檚 still a lot of servers who would otherwise be working that can鈥檛 now.鈥�
So he looked for another solution, and found this virtual tip jar model.
鈥淚t鈥檚 mostly bar tenders, servers, restaurant workers, a few baristas鈥� on the here, Brewington said. 鈥淎 couple people from different hair salons have put their info on there.鈥�
As of Tuesday afternoon, Boise鈥檚 list had more than 400 people.
Brewington said he got the idea from a Washington, D.C. group, but now virtual tip jars are popping up from to .
While the tip jar certainly won鈥檛 replace a service worker鈥檚 lost income, Brewington said it can directly support many of the people who鈥檝e served the community and are now struggling.
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