Thousands Raised To Help Dundee Restaurant, Out-Of-Work Employees

EAST DUNDEE, IL — The community of East Dundee has rallied in recent days to keep one local restaurant afloat and also raised thousands of dollars for Dundee bar and restaurant workers out of work amid a government-mandated shut-down of dine-in services as the new coronavirus continues to spread. On Monday, an online fundraiser was set up to help keep Rosie O'hare's Public House, 702 Water Street in East Dundee, up and running.

Organizers of the Facebook fundraiser set an initial goal of $5,000 and residents stepped up with most of the $6,790 in funds raised (so far) coming in the first 24 hours after the fundraiser went live.

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"I'm appealing to friends, family, community and supporters of Rosie O'hare's Public house hit hard by the pandemic. Let's help this great place stay afloat while the world figures out how to get back to a new normal," according to a message posted on the Facebook page.

Terrance Seward helped organize the fund-raiser. He is also responsible for setting up a larger-scale effort to help bar and restaurant workers out of work in Dundee and to provide them with the money they need to "pay rent and grab groceries."

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As of Saturday morning, more than $18,000 has been raised, according to the Helping Dundee Bars and Restaurant Workers Facebook page. On Thursday, Seward let local residents know that the first round of checks had been sent out-of-work employees. He said 56 workers will each be receiving $313.89.

"A lot of Dundee restaurant and bar workers are hurting right now financially and we ALL need each other. I believe this will help many restaurant and bar workers make it through this hard time," he wrote on the Facebook page.

Rosie's is among several area restaurants that are offering curbside pick-up and delivery while dine-in service is not an option. Those interested in ordering from Rosie's can get more information here.