What Happens to the Mutual Aid Pop-Ups Chefs Launched During the Pandemic Now that Restaurant Jobs Are Back? | Eater

"A Los Angeles street-stand operation that has given away thousands of free meals through community cookouts is shifting toward sustainability with a share-a-meal program that lets customers pay a bit extra to buy a free quesadilla for someone in need. Over the pandemic the organizer has helped distribute roughly 7,000 free meals, but dwindling donations and returning volunteers threaten that model; typical collections per cookout ranged from about $300 to $700. With eviction moratoria expiring and economic need persisting, the operator is planning to embed community funding into menu pricing (for example, directing a dollar from certain items toward cookouts) while bracing for customer pushback at higher per-plate prices." - Jaya Saxena