Restaurant Takes Hard Hit but Still Finds a Way to Give Back

By Shane O’Halloran

JRN 100 Stonehill News Staff Writer 

This month’s special at Barrels and Boards (Raynham, Ma) is if you donate one N95 mask you will receive a free pizza of your choice in return. Barrels and Boards owner, Dave Laghetto, wanted to make sure he was doing his part even in these unprecedented times. 

Due to the recent concerns and many ties to family members working in hospitals as nurses, Laghetto, wanted to find a way to help even though his business could have used the money. 

The masks have been turned around and donated to various different spots to places in need. Barrels and Boards have donated 20 masks already. They gave 10 to the Raynham Fire Department, 5 to Roger Williams Medical Center in Rhode Island, and 5 to where his son, Jake Laghetto, works as a nurse in a hospital in Colorado. 

On top of the mask donations, Barrels and Board are offering a $10 gift card for every $50 spent. Laghetto believes it is a “win win” for them to offer that. He thinks that it helps them get business now and customers will have gift cards to hold on to once they can fully operate. 

Barrels and Boards have also branded their to-go bags, offer daily specials, and family meals. Laghetto has seen a lot of success with the family meals especially, he said, 

“The family meals have been good for us. It offers a big meal to serve at least a family of four for a fair price.” 

Barrels and Boards are among many restaurants that have suffered finically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Coronavirus has hit successful restaurants by storm in the recent month. According to the State Restaurant Association, 88% of all restaurant owners reported that sales are lower in the same time period as last year. 54% of restaurants have gone to full take out services and 44% have them have completed shut down. 

The National Restaurant Association estimates that during the first 22 days of March, the restaurant industry lost an estimated $25 billion in sales and more than 3 million jobs.

Dave Laghetto, owner of Barrels and Boards in Raynham, Ma, feels fortunate because he is able to still do takeout in a recent interview. He claims that he is able to keep the lights on because of takeout. Laghetto said, 

“Everything and everyone is at a standstill right now. Everyone’s in the same boat.”

Laghetto said he is also worried about his employees. He Said,

“We have single mothers with kids that work here, and they will not be able to make as much collecting unemployment as they do here. “

Laghetto found it to be important that even though during these tough times as a restaurant owner that the main priority was to help out Doctors, nurses, and first responders. They are the ones fighting this every day.

In Return the Raynham community has done their part to help out their local restaurants. Laghetto said the Raynham Fire Department has started a fund for restaurants in their town. Funds like these have been so important for restaurants to stay in business. 

Mike Mcrae, the union president for the Raynham Fire Department, is asked how Raynham fire started donating to local restaurants. Mcrae said, 

“We voted, during this pandemic, to help them [restaurants] out. The guys [Fire Fighters] dine out on duty and we bought dinner for the guys just to give back to the people who have helped us out over the years.”

Mcrae said it was a unanimous decision for the union and the fire department to fully support local restaurants during this time. Local restaurants have always been helpful over the years doing raffle prizes, gift cards, hosting events, and giving out food. He said,

“It is huge for us, all the gift cards, without the restaurants in town having our backs all these years there’s no way we would’ve been able to do the things we have done. It is our turn now.”

Fire Department has made sure that they have been dining out on duty and using the money that they have fundraised to continue to support local restaurants each week.

Laghetto also mentioned that a few people have come into his restaurant and have been vocal about how they have been trying to go to a different restaurant at least once a week to do their part in giving back to their favorite restaurants in town and all over. 

Laghetto believes people should support all restaurants not just his during this time. All

Restaurants are hoping for local support during this pandemic that has caused a huge hit to their business that cares for their customers the most. 

Restaurants are an enormous business that takes up 10% of the U.S workplace 0r 15.6 million people. That means 15.6 million people are struggling one way or another. 

April sales are estimated to go down over $60 billion from March’s sales. That is why it is important to give back like the Raynham Fire Department and like many other funds that are currently taking place. 

Are you looking for a quick way to give back during this time? Then do your part and dine out at your favorite restaurant.