Restaurants find new ways to make Mother’s Day special

WARREN, R.I. (WLNE) — Katie O’Donnell knows firsthand how challenging the pandemic has been for many moms.

“I have two toddlers at home,” she said. “So motherhood during this crisis has been pretty intense.”

That’s why her restaurant, Bywater in Warren, wanted to make this Mother’s Day extra special, putting together its first brunch-in-a-box — complete with items like small gifts and mimosa mix.

“People were really thinking about the atmospherics of Mother’s Day, thinking, What is it going to take to make her feel pampered?'” O’Donnell said. “And kind of check off the things that they would typically get at a restaurant, but be able to obtain them and bring them home.”

At Troop in Providence, the Mother’s Day brunch package includes flowers from a farm in Seekonk — an opportunity to partner with other local small businesses.

“We’re all going through something really challenging,” said co-owner Leigh Vincola. “So the more that we can work together, the better. We’re all doing the best we can, and making our own celebrations in any way that we can at home.”

Customers say today wasn’t just about supporting Mom, it’s about supporting the community.

A Bywater customer says he didn’t think twice about turning to his wife’s favorite restaurant in tough times.

“It feels good to be supporting the community, doing something good for Mother’s Day, and helping Kate out to keep her business going,” said Chris Rein of Barrington.

A Troop customer says she was inspired to help the community by her mom, a healthcare worker recovering from COVID-19.

“I’m so proud of her, and I’m so grateful that she’s okay,” said Brianna Tran of Providence. “So I just wanted to do something nice for her today. She deserves it.”