As Houston’s estimated 300,000 restaurant workers find their livelihoods threatened during coronavirus shutdowns, the city of Houston has launched a citywide restaurant support campaign called “Take Us to Your Table.”

The campaign, announced at an April 16 press conference, seeks to encourage Houstonians to place curbside pick up and to-go orders from the city’s restaurants to help keep them afloat while dining rooms are closed.

To start, ExxonMobil donated $100,000 to the Texas Restaurant Relief fund. The donation will go toward funding 6,000 meals prepared by local chefs for Texas Medical Center workers and Houston’s first responders.

With that funding, local chefs will be able to bring back and pay furloughed staff for the effort.

“It's time to come together,” said Houston chef Hugo Ortega, who will be participating in the meal drive. “What a wonderful opportunity for me to cook for you and support the city that has given us so much.”

When in full operation, restaurants have a $70 billion economic impact across Texas, per Texas Restaurant Association estimates.

Use Community Impact Newspaper's neighborhood takeout listings for restaurant offerings in the Bay Area; Bellaire, Meyerland and West University Place; Lake Houston, Humble and Kingwood; and the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose.