A Bartender’s Gratitude: Karoline’s Story

When a food service worker faces an unexpected health or financial crisis, the impact can extend far beyond the emergency itself. For Karoline, a longtime bartender, an unexpected accident meant a $20,000 surgery, time away from work, and uncertainty about how she would pay her bills. With support from Giving Kitchen’s Clinic Comps program, Karoline was able to get help when she needed it most.

Karoline has been a bartender since she was 18 years old, and she takes great pride in the work she does. Like many food service workers, though, she knows firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate an emergency when missing work also means missing a paycheck.

When her accident happened, Karoline was facing a major medical expense without insurance, along with the everyday costs of life while she was unable to work. Through Giving Kitchen’s emergency assistance and support from Clinic Comps, she received help with her surgery and other essential expenses, including rent.

Giving Kitchen’s Clinic Comps is a pilot program that connects food service workers with trusted healthcare providers who offer free initial appointments. Each “comp” covers one initial consultation or appointment with a participating provider, helping remove the upfront cost that can prevent food service workers from accessing care.

“To start from the beginning, I have been a bartender since I was 18 years old, and I am incredibly proud to do what I do. I’ve been fortunate to work at a bar that truly supports me, but the reality is that in this industry, if we aren’t working, we aren’t getting paid. We have to work to pay our day-to-day bills and don’t have paid time off.

I was terrified when this accident happened because I do not have insurance, and I was going to have to pay out-of-pocket for a surgery that was $20,000. I was basically stressing about what I was going to do in the meantime—about bills, life, everything—when I got the call from Giving Kitchen.

I immediately broke down and started crying happy tears because somebody had my back, and I could not believe anybody cared.

Words cannot express how thankful I am to the Giving Kitchen for not only helping with my surgery, but also my rent, and for the kind attitudes I have received from every single person I have talked to. I would not have made it through this without them.

I am so grateful to know that there are people in this world who will be there for us, friendly bartenders!”

Karoline’s experience reflects a reality many restaurant and food service workers face: when you can’t work, you may not get paid. An unexpected illness, injury, or other emergency can quickly make it difficult to keep up with medical bills, rent, and other essential expenses.

No food service worker should have to navigate a crisis alone. Giving Kitchen works alongside Stability Network community partners to connect food service workers with resources and support during times of need.

For Karoline, that network of support helped ease the financial burden of a serious accident and gave her something just as important: the reassurance that someone had her back.

Her story is a reminder that behind every meal, drink, and hospitality experience is a person—and sometimes, that person needs someone to show up for them.

Because the people who take care of us deserve to know someone has their back, too.

Need Support?
If you or a food service worker you know is experiencing a crisis, Giving Kitchen may be able to help. Learn more about food service worker emergency assistance through Giving Kitchen and access community resources and support through the Stability Network.