BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — When Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentuckians would no longer be able to sit inside their favorite restaurants, servers across the Commonwealth had a familiar question to ask themselves: How were they going to make ends meet?
After Beshear's new restrictions, Sarci Eldridge immediately thought of her favorite server. With the holidays around the corner, she knew it would be hard for her to purchase gifts, let alone provide basic necessities.
“Through no fault of her own, she’s facing job loss and/or major cuts right at the holiday season, and I said to mom, 'why don’t we just give her some gift cards and help her through the holiday season?' She has a son, and I knew she could use some extra support because the money just wasn’t there from her hours,” Eldridge said.
After talking with her mom, she decided to share the good deed with her Facebook friends and family, many of whom were interested in doing the same thing. Eldridge's one act of kindness quickly turned into the Adopt A Server Facebook page where thousands of people have connected to help one another.
Mothers, grandmothers, fathers, pet owners, and more have reached out in the Facebook group, including 44-year-old Jennifer Russell. A waitress in Elizabethtown, she originally worked at Ruby Tuesday’s before leaving at the beginning of the year. Russell was allowed to work at a new upscale rooftop bar when the pandemic hit and the grand opening was pushed back until further notice. Out of work through the spring and summer, she was originally afforded assistance through her bank and utility companies.
Between what money she had saved, Russell was able to keep a roof over her head and necessities in the house. But, as the year progressed, her bank and utility company no longer assisted. Fighting an autoimmune disease, Russell was faced with the tough decision of whether or not to protect or provide for herself.
“I’m at high risk, but at the same time, I have to pay my bills, so it's just scary. Do we get out there and work and risk our health, or do we stay home and protect our health and risk our means of survival? You know, it's just tough right now,” Russell said.
After her daughter let her know Texas Roadhouse was hosting open interviews, Russell was hired and employed once again in October. Working for just a little over a month, she is now once again scrambling to make ends meet.
Russell was reluctant to ask for help, living alone with no children or grandchildren in the house. She then realized her struggle was just as important as the next server. Russell found out about the Adopt a Server Facebook group through her Texas Roadies Facebook Group. She posted pictures of her and her pets asking for everyday necessities along with bill assistance.
Russell has been overwhelmed with the amount of kindness she’s received. People have reached out to pay for her groceries, food for her pets, prepay her utility bills, and help with her rent. Scraping just enough to pay her $750 rent, she says there’s been no room for anything else.
“I literally can’t spend money on anything, including dog food, toilet paper or anything, so that group has really just helped me get the things that I need for my home without having to dip into that money I need for my rent,” Russell said.
Servers post their Amazon wishlists and Venmo and Cashapp usernames, hoping to be adopted by someone looking to pay it forward. The group is only open to people in Kentucky and some surrounding states.
Eldridge says no matter the request, it is always okay to ask for help.
“Don’t cut yourself from receiving a blessing. Even if it's just a small item, there’s so many people willing to give a few dollars here and there. It really is a beautiful thing and I would just invite you to come be a part of this little miracle that we’re watching happen,” Eldridge said.
Beshear’s mandate is set to expire Dec. 13. If you or someone you know is a server and has been affected by COVID-19, learn more about Adopt a Server here.