A wide range of local businesses, schools and restaurants have mobilized over the last month to bring meals and hot coffee to individuals in need as well as healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
That includes law firms, insurance companies, medical groups and others whose partnership with local restaurants is a win-win, both helping businesses impacted by the pandemic and those keeping us safe. We’ve highlighted just a few below.
Local law firm Dalton & Associates is teaming up with YMCA of Delaware and the Charcoal Pit to provide lunch and personal items to Delaware YMCA residents in need during the current pandemic crisis.
The YMCA provides meals to students who relied on school lunches along with one hot meal a day to its 140 residents. Their first delivery of free lunches will occur this Friday, May 1, and the firm says it is reaching out to other law firms to encourage them to join the effort, hoping it can continue.
“It’s a win-win. We can help sustain an iconic local restaurant, and get people fed,” said Attorney Laura Simon.
The firm’s managing partner Bart Dalton says they feel obligated to help and the meals “will have an immediate impact on those in need. Despite the best efforts of local and State agencies, there are people in our community who need our help,” he said.
Other food initiatives that Dalton & Associates contributes to include the Food Bank of Delaware, and the Ministry of Caring.
Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists is donating 400 lunches made by Drip Café to be distributed to workers at various ChristianaCare locations.
Kim Walus with DOS says the huge, delicious delivery is a great way to give back to community healthcare workers. “We want the healthcare workers to know that we fully support them and are so appreciative of the work they’re doing during this difficult time,” she said.
The meals went to staff at Christiana Care, Wilmington Hospital, Middletown ER and Urgent Care centers in the area. Walus noted Greg Vogeley and his team at Drip Cafe were instrumental in providing meals in a safe delivery setting and they are still accepting donations for essential worker meals on their website.
Claymont Steak Shop, best known for its award-winning philly-style cheesesteaks, is coordinating with the ChristianaCare facilities to donate 500 lunches to their healthcare staff working at the Christiana and Wilmington Hospitals.
Like Brew HaHa!, Claymont Steak Shop is funding their food giveaways on their own. They have 250 more sandwiches headed over to the Ministry of Caring’s Emanuel Dining Room on May 5th and 300 sandwiches earmarked for St. Francis Hospital next week.
“So many people in the health care field are putting themselves on the frontline to care for patients while risking exposure to COVID-19. Many of these workers are our customers and we just wanted to show our appreciation and support for how they are caring for our community,” said Demi Kollias, owner of the Claymont Steak Shop group. “I wanted these heroes to know that their work does not go unnoticed.”
Claymont Steak Shop is also offering all healthcare workers and first responders a 10% discount on food orders.
Claymont Steak Shop donates $3,000 to Delaware E.A.T.s Fund
Kollias she feels very fortunate that her restaurant can remain open and operate as takeout and delivery. But she’s well aware the restaurant sector has been hit hard by the restrictions mandated due to the pandemic. “About one in 10 Delawareans work in the local hospitality industry so this has a big impact to families, small business, and the Delaware economy,” said Kollias.
So her restaurant has donated $3000 to the Delaware Restaurant Association‘s E.A.T.S Fund (Emergency Action Trust) to help local hospitality workers who have lost their jobs. Click here to donate to E.A.T.s.
St. Edmond’s Academy and the St. Edmond’s Parents Association contributed meals from Cafe Valentina to Christiana Hospital’s Emergency Room Team on April 15th. The lunch consisted of Stuffed shells/lasagna/variety of wraps/Caesar salad and bread.
A school spokesperson said, “One of our St. Edmond’s parents is a nurse with this emergency room team so it was extra special to show her that her school community was standing strong behind her and everyone on the front lines!” Niki Gravino, a mom of two boys at St. Eddy’s, has been a trauma/ER nurse for 15 years.
