Exclusive Interview: Days of Our Lives Star Arianne Zucker Previews Daytime Cares Live Event

If you’re worried about your favorite restaurant going under because of COVID, you’re not alone. Arianne Zucker, who plays Nicole on Days of Our Lives, is championing Daytime Cares: A Live Event for the Restaurant Community later this week as a way to help keep eateries alive until we get to the other side of this worldwide pandemic.

Arianne Zucker Plans Amazing Virtual Event

Actors from all four of your favorite soaps, members of the Broadway community, musical acts, and celebrity chefs are coming together on Saturday, December 5 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST for the Daytime Cares event, specifically set to benefit restaurants and restaurant workers. (Click here for details.)

“It’s tough,” Zucker tells Soap Hub as to what restaurants are facing because of COVID-19. “This event, I hope, is coming at a really good time.” Zucker and her team at Daytime Cares teamed up with a man named Greg Hill in Boston who heads up The Greg Hill Foundation to help people in any kind of tragedy. “He started the Restaurant Strong Fund,” Zucker adds. “It’s raising funds for restaurants and is helping with grants to help winterize restaurants, putting in tents and heaters.”

“We have quite a lineup,” Zucker says of the folks who’ll be participating in Saturday’s variety show. “It’s a 90-minute event, but we’ll probably still go over.” The actress says restaurants play a key role in our society in that they provide jobs for people who work at them but they also are vital for social interactions. “We go out and dine and see our friends and have dates,” she says.

It’s free to view the event and there will be links provided so that attendees can donate. Celebs taking part in the show include singers Gloria Gaynor (“I Will Survive”) and Lisa Loeb (“Stay, I Miss You”), celebrity chef Katie Chen, daytime stars from The Young and the Restless: Peter Bergman (Jack), Jason Thompson (Billy), Michael Mealor (Kyle); The Bold and the Beautiful: Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter); General Hospital: Laura Wright (Carly), and others including Los Angeles restaurant owner Paolo Seganti (ex-Damian, As the World Turns).

Zucker’s DAYS pals attending include Marci Miller (Abby), Chrishell Stause (ex-Jordan), and Shawn Christian (ex-Daniel). “It’s a good mix of people,” Zucker says. “The goal of the evening is to be really light and fun and to bring some joy with some giving back being a part of it, too. We want to bring joy to the people watching.”

For info on Daytime Cares: A Live Event for the Restaurant Community, click here. Days of Our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Check local listings for air times.