Workers laid off because of COVID-19 seeking alternative ways to make end meet

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Employees from many local businesses are jobless because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Coronavirus forced restaurants to rely on take-out and delivery.

Laid off and furloughed workers told Action News Jax they’re getting behind the wheel to stay ahead of their payments.

Holly Bennett said March 20 was her last day at Firebirds on the Southside.

According to the restaurant cook, “They’re still doing to-go but it’s not enough to keep the employees there at work.”

Instead, the mom said she’s driving for Door Dash.

The online delivery service is one of several apps that have become popular during the pandemic.

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“It’s not as busy as people might think it would be, but you can definitely get orders back-to-back,” described Bennett.

She said business can be slow because so many unemployed people are driving as an alternate income source.

Bennett is among the 26 million Americans who have filed for unemployment since the virus hit.

She said she isn’t banking on a check because of issues filing on the state’s website.

“I have to figure out how I’m going to pay the car payment,” Bennet said. “If I lose the car, me and him can’t get to where we need to go.”

She said she’d be driving until her job opens up again.

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