Illawarra mum sets up Facebook page to help local eateries
A day care centre owner has set up a Facebook group where restaurants and cafes across the Illawarra could post their menus.
Toria Kotamanidis decided to create a one-stop-shop for menus as a way to help out the local hospitality sector which has been forced to rely on takeaways under the coronavirus restrictions.
The Illawarra Menus page is a free service where cafes and restaurants can upload free albums with photos and information such as their name, location and trading hours. By Sunday afternoon 145 eateries had posted menus.
"When I was heading off to work last Monday I thought if we go into the lockdown the only thing that is going to be available is the supermarkets and what is going to happen to all the businesses like cafes and restaurants," she told the Illawarra Mercury.
"All cafes and restaurants were suddenly restricted to just takeaway and deliveries. And I thought ‘wouldn't it be easy if there were just one place where the Illawarra could go that provided access to all their menus’. The response was overwhelming. It just took off like crazy".
The group is set to reach its target of more than 20,000 members within the first week.
"My heart goes out to everyone. I thought if I can help other people at this time then why not"? she said.
"And it is so good when an eatery posts they have sold out of food because they have taken so many delivery orders.
"This has never been for me. It is for the community. I didn't expect it to grow this big. But it has and I love it because it is making a difference.”
Sheridan Randall, 31st March 2020
