Texans Quarterback Deshaun Watson Donates Hundreds of Meals to Healthcare, Service Industry Workers

Welcome to AM Intel in the time of coronavirus, a round-up of the city’s newest bits of restaurant-related intel. Follow Eater on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date details on how COVID-19 is impacting the city’s dining scene.

Deshaun Watson makes major donation to Riel, feeds healthcare workers

Over the weekend, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson made two major donations to help keep Houstonians fed. First, Watson made a sizable donation to the Lee Initiative’s Restaurant Workers Relief Program, which is providing hundreds of meals daily to service industry workers during the coronavirus crisis via Houston restaurant Riel. Watson also connected with Filipino favorite Sticky’s Chicken to donate 400 meals to healthcare workers at Ben Taub Hospital, per Click2Houston.

1 in 50 Texas restaurants may be forced to close permanently

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the impact on restaurants across the state is only going to get more significant. According to new data from the National Restaurant Association, 1 in 50 (or 12%) of Texas restaurants may be forced to permanently close their doors amid the crisis, reports the Houston Chronicle.

Governor Greg Abbott urges USDA to allow SNAP use at restaurants

Considering that millions of Texans eat most of their meals at restaurants across the state, Governor Greg Abbott has issued a plea to the United States Department of Agriculture to allow recipients of SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, at restaurants. According to Eater Austin, Abbott penned a letter to the agency in an attempt to “open up another food source for 3.2 million Texans.” If allowed, the requested waiver would only apply “temporarily.”