The dust continues to settle from December's COVID-19-related statewide shutdown that forced many out of the workplace across the state.

The Slippery Rock Service Workers Relief Fund has alleviated some of that burden by raising $6,000, which turned into $50 cash for more than 120 laid-off local workers.

“We're in a period where a lot of folks are strapped for cash right now,” said Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo. “The fact that our community was able to come together to raise $6,000 is amazing.”

For Frantzi Schaub, 26, of Slippery Rock, the $50 he received went toward his rent.

“The anxiety came from having to dip so much into my savings account to make ends meet, but I tried my best to look at the blessings I do have,” Schaub said.

Schaub has been working two jobs while completing his bachelor's degree in early childhood education. He already has a bachelor's degree in special education and theater.

However, Schaub has been laid off three times from his primary job at the Ginger Hill Tavern in Slippery Rock, and he also watched as the statewide shutdowns forced the locale of his secondary job — Cinema Grille in Grove City — to close permanently.

“I believed that it was done in hopes of saving lives and I like the idea that if me losing my job temporarily would save one life, then it might be worth it,” Schaub said. “It still did hurt losing my job not once, but three times in a year and having to try to survive on almost half the amount I normally make monthly.”

Bob McCafferty, owner of North Country Brewing, said he was thankful for programs like the relief fund.

“It's heart-wrenching each time,” said McCafferty on having to lay off staff. “Each time, we thought it'd be the last time.”

McCafferty said many restaurants and other businesses operate on slim margins that disappear when the business isn't operating at full capacity.

“All the staff and team members were so gracious with all the changes that had to happen, and they understood,” he said. “That took a lot of the weight off.”

So when the relief fund became a possibility, McCafferty said his managers were diligent about putting names in for the assistance.

“We try to support our community in every way we can, all year long,” McCafferty said. “It was amazing to see everybody (give to) the hospitality workers.”

North Country Brewing Co., along with many other businesses, reopened Jan. 4, but many restrictions remain, such as capacity limits and purchase requirements.

Mikayla Benson, 23, of Slippery Rock, is a bartender at Ginger Hill Tavern, and like Schaub, has been working two jobs while she attends Slippery Rock University.

“With the capacity limits, I knew I was going to do more hours and more work than before to make the same amount of money,” Benson said.

Benson said in her other job, she has to put together a lot of to-go orders, which have been a saving grace for many restaurants. However, she still gets paid less than minimum wage as a waitress, and people are less prone to add a tip for a takeout order.

“It's really frustrating when you put together a $100 takeout order and receive nothing,” Benson said. “It's important to think about the person waiting on you then too. They're counting on that money.”

Benson said the uncertainty of steady work can sometimes create extra stress that compounds when added to a school workload. Last semester, Benson took the maximum amount of credits allowed in a semester as she pursues a dual-major bachelor's degree in special education transition programming and nonprofit management.

When she received help from the fund, it helped to briefly alleviate that stress, and she used the money to help pay off Christmas gifts for her family.

“This is the first time I've ever been in a position where I've had to count on a neighbor or someone else in the community,” Benson said. “As someone who has lived here my whole life, Slippery Rock is supportive in helping a neighbor in need.”

Longo said he has that same faith in his community to come through for one another, which made the fundraiser a success. He said he was thankful for his partners in pastors Chad Bailey of Slippery Rock Baptist Church and Jeff Lynn of Crossroads Baptist Church.

He said in addition to the relief fund, the community also came together to bolster the Feed My Sheep food pantry's supplies and funds as well as support local businesses by ordering pickup and takeout throughout the shutdown.

“I'm really grateful to folks who were kind and generous enough to donate,” Longo said. “I want to thank them for making this possible.”

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