Earlier this month, Starbucks reported that its US comp sales late in the month of March were down between 60 – 70% while only 44% of their US locations were still operating. Notwithstanding, the company announced that it was seeding the creation of the Global Partner Emergency Relief Program with $10 million to help workers at company-operated stores who are facing “extreme hardship” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds grants will be available for such items as housing and utilities, sudden loss of home, or the death of a family member and related funeral expenses. Elsewhere, McDonald’s reported early this month that the pandemic had caused it to close a full 25% of its global locations, but that 99% of its US stores were still open, albeit for drive-thru, delivery or take-out only. The company also announced that it expected to “reduce capital expenditures by approximately $1 billion for 2020 . . .”