BY AMANDA GUNN

Popular Melbourne eateries have reached out to support the city’s most vulnerable residents, despite the pandemic’s catastrophic impacts on many small hospitality businesses.

Stan’s Deli, Eat Polly’s, and Carmelo’s Pizza are amongst a number of local businesses assisting community members dealing with food insecurity or lost income. 

Stan’s Deli in Malvern has been running a ‘pay it forward’ initiative to help those doing it tough during the city’s sixth lockdown.

The initiative allows customers to purchase a meal, snack or coffee in advance for someone else to redeem.

Stan’s owner Alex Gavioli said it is normally up to him and his team to reach out to struggling residents who he found often shy away from asking for help. 

“We will put up [the item purchased] on the board and showcase it so people know it is available,” Mr Gavioli said.

“If we see people are struggling, it is up to us to have a conversation with them.” 

Mr Gavioli said he felt fortunate to have remained open while COVID-19 restrictions were in place and wanted to help give back to his patrons. 

“I am grateful for our location. During lockdown, we are actually busier than ever because people want to get out of the house,” he said.

“However, a lot of other people and hospitality venues are really struggling, which makes me want to give more.” 

Mr Gavioli said the ‘pay it forward’ initiative has encouraged customers to think about others and provided a stronger sense of community during tough times.

Whilst acknowledging the challenges Melbourne’s lockdowns have inflicted on the hospitality industry, Collingwood’s Eat Polly’s owner and operator Chris Polak said it has also been “gratifying” to be able to collaborate with other businesses to stay afloat.

The pandemic has seen Eat Polly join forces with a variety of hospitality workers in an effort to keep running and support other industry members.

“COVID shifted the Polly's business model for the better,” Mr Polak said. 

“Being creative with new dishes and interesting produce, collaborating with different growers, makers, venues and artists… helped the [Eat Polly’s] brand survive.”

Despite opening amid Melbourne’s first lockdown in 2020 and being unable to open to full capacity, Mr Polak has run multiple events providing free food to the community this year.  

“Last year was a crazy difficult time to start a small business; there were customers, individuals and businesses without whom we wouldn’t have survived,” Mr Polak said.

“Now that we’ve made it through that and are a bit more established, it’s nice to give back.”

Despite losing overseas staff to their home countries during the pandemic, Carmelo’s Pizza Brunswick has been involved in numerous food donations, accompanying Carlton North’s Good Gnocchi in recent giveaways during the city’s latest lockdown. 

Carmelo’s owner George Roham said he was grateful locals continued to support small businesses through an “unstable” time for the hospitality industry.

“Giving back to the community was an easy decision,” Mr Roham said. 

“Knowing people need help, and you’re in a position to provide, makes you want to do it.”

Mr Roham said he feels well-supported by his hospitality colleagues and is hopeful about the strengthened bonds that have been formed within the industry.

“We have built really strong connections through supporting each other and directing customers to each other,” he said.

“Building friendships and getting together to give back to the community has never been done before. It has helped bring people together.”