Watch 'Save Our Sauce' documentary: Donate here to help restaurant workers in Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND — DONATE HERE to help restaurant workers throughout Northeast Ohio.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the restaurant industry hard. Very hard. Many locations were forced to close or limit operations throughout the last year, leaving servers, cooks, hosts and many others without a job. You can make a donation HERE.

3News' Austin Love hosted a "Save our Sauce" documentary that aired on WKYC Channel 3 on Friday, March 19 to help raise money and shine the spotlight on people within Northeast Ohio's restaurant industry. The special also included ways you can help those impacted in the restaurant business.

The Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation and the Ohio Restaurant Association formed the Ohio Restaurant Employee relief fund to help. Money donated to the fund goes to personnel in the foodservice industry who have been affected by COVID-19. Again, you can donate HERE.

RELATED: 3News launches 'Save our Sauce' campaign: How you can support local restaurants

"Restaurants are cornerstones of every community and with our industry in a catastrophic state due the COVID-19 crisis, now is the time for Ohioans to respond," according to officials connected with the relief fund. "Now is the time to support those who have supported us and the communities we call home."

Local pizza shops came together to help with a campaign in January called "Pizza with a Purpose" and donated money from every pepperoni pizza sold to the restaurant relief fund. 

RELATED: 'Ghost kitchens' in Northeast Ohio: How chef and restaurateur Douglas Katz adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic

Employees can apply for relief if they’ve worked in the food and restaurant industry for a minimum of six months. You can submit an application here. You can also support workers and restaurants by eating local. According to a survey by TheBalance.com, 28% of people want to get out of their home and go to a restaurant. 

You can watch the Save our Sauce documentary in the player above or below:

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FEATURED SEGMENTS FROM 'SAVE OUR SAUCE' DOCUMENTARY

• Sauce the City focuses on Cleveland, Community and Chicken
• Boss ChickNBeer puts people before profits
• Colossal Cupcakes to reopen downtown Cleveland location
• Cleveland Hot Chicken’s creation story

MORE 'SAVE OUR SAUCE' COVERAGE:

• RELATED: Save our Sauce: Try these 10 Latin restaurants in Northeast Ohio
• RELATED: Save our Sauce: The 10 restaurants to try in Tremont
• RELATED: 10 restaurants to try in University Circle and Little Italy: Save our Sauce
• RELATED: Save our Sauce: 10 restaurants to try in downtown Cleveland
• RELATED: Save our Sauce: Here are 10 restaurants to try in Cleveland Heights