The service industry nationwide has been hit hard by rising costs, and Louisville is certainly not immune. While the LEE Initiative and APRON Inc. have long supported local spirits industry professionals, they recently teamed up with a specific new mission.
The Bluegrass Bartenders Fund was founded to help the hospitality community stay afloat by offering financial aid for a variety of necessities based on individual needs.
Some services include assistance with rent, childcare, medical bills, and utilities. One-time grants are awarded to eligible professionals working within the local spirits industry.
“The Bluegrass Bartenders Fund is more than just financial relief — it’s a lifeline for the individuals who make Louisville’s spirit scene what it is. Our bartenders are the storytellers, the connectors, and the heart of hospitality,” says Ashley Shadburne, director of communications at The LEE Initiative.
According to APRON Inc.’s website, 66% of hospitality workers lack insurance to cover mental and physical healthcare. They also note that the average bartender earns approximately $14 per hour. Of the more than 10,000 bartenders working in Louisville, Kentucky, 70% report experiencing mental, physical, and financial struggles.
“The LEE Initiative team is deeply grateful to the local distilleries that have stepped up to support this fund. We received support from Bulleit Bourbon, Woodford Reserve, Angel’s Envy, Willett, Peerless, Jefferson’s Reserve, Heaven Hill, Knob Creek, and Bardstown Bourbon,” Shadburne says. “Their generosity reminds us that in Kentucky, taking care of our own is just part of who we are.”
The LEE Initiative was established in 2017 to address similar issues, particularly in underserved regions such as the Midwest and Southeastern United States.
Both groups are optimistic Louisville bar patrons will step up to support these hardship relief grants and give back to the people who give so much to our community every day.
“This is the first job I’ve had that grows more exciting with time. When we founded APRON 13 years ago, it was with hope and uncertainty,” says APRON Inc. president Gary Fox. “We didn’t know how we’d support our mission, but the community — especially the independent restaurant sector — has had our backs every step of the way.”
Local organizations of all kinds help, as do individuals, in part because it’s a necessary cause in an industry where workers might not have access to health insurance. It might be as simple as an injury that keeps an employee out of work for a week or two, and APRON Inc. can step in to help pay that month’s bills, or part of the rent.
The organization’s mission statement reads: “To provide temporary, limited financial relief to professional food and beverage workers in the Louisville metro area who work at locally owned establishments and who are experiencing financial distress due to illness, accident, emergency, or catastrophic event through no fault of their own.”
Fox says they have helped the industry weather major storms, particularly during the pandemic. “Together, we’ve celebrated so many milestones: our first grant, our 1,000th, and the one that pushed us past the $1 million mark,” he says. “It’s heartwarming to be thanked in public for lightening someone’s load in their time of need. Each day brings new challenges — be it illness, fire, flooding, or helping a mother care for her son recovering from a severe dog bite. We never know what the morning mail will bring, but we always answer.”
APRON Inc. continues to host ongoing fundraisers to bring the community together and offer mutual aid. There are pop-ups and plenty of ongoing events and fundraisers posted on the organization’s social media and website.
This includes a monthly happy-hour meetup that features drawings, food, cocktails, and tastings. Known as the Happy Hour Friend-Raiser, the regular event is free and mostly serves to meet those involved in APRON and network. Of course, donations are encouraged at these happy hours.
If you’ve ever met a bartender who became your best friend for a moment or a server who made you laugh when you felt like crying, now’s the time to take a stand for them. These establishments provide numerous ways to support the workers who make up the backbone of the community.
A silent auction was held over the summer to raise money for the Bluegrass Bartenders Fund. More information on how to donate can be found on their website at aproninc.org/bluegrass-bartenders-fund.
