Food+Love+Thanks for Essential Workers
We believe Food + Love = Joy. Give a nourishing, multi-course meal of locally sourced proteins, herbs and vegetables to our Essential Workers. Pioneer Square's The Custom Plate has expanded their culinary focus to match their heart and spirit to deliver their healing food to our essential workers. The Custom Plate provides nutritious, delicious, individually prepared organic meals to individuals and teams. As they source all ingredients from local gardeners and markets, this effort supports all the many independent food suppliers as well.
Our Essential Workers have been there for us, every morning, every night, every moment of crisis, every moment of need. We have witnessed their calm, capable response to rally and rise and step forward to support each of us.
After a long shift, a meal of thanks will be a shot of joy! 
Send a meal or a week of meals to an Essential Worker who has come down with the virus. It is hard enough to recover, now being isolated from family who are likely also stressed, worried. Provide a meal to remind them, we know they are part of our team.
Custom Plate in Seattle has already been providing meals to healthcare workers and is ready to step forward to contribute to support our essential workers get nutritious food.
Please consider donating $15 will help us provide 6000 meals to support our essential workers as long as needed Each worker will receive a custom made multi-course meal. We will be providing meals to essential workers in hospitals, clinics, supermarkets, shipping departments, post offices, police stations, EMT stations. Every worker deserves a meal of thanks. The Custom Plate creates beautiful, delicious nourishing meals in packaging that is safe for workers to eat immediately or take home.
Join us in the belief that Food + Love = Joy.
Be part of a campaign to bring a moment of Joy and thanks for workers who have been there for all of us.
We invite you to include in your donation an individual department, doctor, nurse, grocery clerk extraordinaire, EMT, police officer, anyone who you may know is deserving a shot of JOY, GRATITUDE and LOVE for their heroic efforts and their team. We will pass along your sentiments and remind them we are all in this together!
From a recent delivery, this affirming email came in to Chef Tamara:
" I wanted to send an email expressing my gratitude to the meals you delivered yesterday to us nurses over here at Ballard. It was heartfelt, appreciated, and I couldn't believe how delicious the food was. In times like this, it makes me very grateful both to be a nurse, but more to be in a place where people like you can send such great things in such a meaningful way.
From the bottom of my heart, and not so hungry stomach.
THANK YOU!
Jonathan Tin, BSN RN
Co-Chair Swedish Ballard Professional Practice Council
Co-Chair Swedish Ballard Float Pool Shared Governance
SMC-Ballard Acute Care Float Pool
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We will share stories and photos of the difference one meal might make to someone worn from unrelenting demands.
Tamara Hobson is a holistic chef as is her daughter Keeley. Great care and thought go into what herbs for what benefit for the person eating a meal. Custom Plate is a meal delivery caterer and creates menus to support specific culinary needs that promote wellness, support healing during recovery from an ailment or disease. Chef Hobson listens and learns about a client's needs and what foods will be most beneficial. Her skill and talent at creating delicious, organic meals is what keeps their customers coming back and recommending their friends.
Owners, Tamara, Keeley and Dean Hobson are bringing the spirit of health, wellness and joy to this effort expanding their delivery service to Essential Workers. Tamara and Keeley are creating delicious meals for people who are likely tired, hungry, dehydrated. 
Special care is made in ensuring the packaging is safe, vacuum sealed for each worker.
If you would like to go directly to The Custom Plate for a neighbor, friend, someone who might benefit from a healthy meal, go to their website to place an order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see pictures of who is getting meals? Dean, Tamara and Keeley will be posting pictures on their Facebook Page and Diane will be adding updates on the webpage, the Home Collaborative.
May I see any pictures or videos of Chef Tamara or Chef Keeley? Yes, we will post as we capture them to The Custom Plate facebook page
How can Hospital and Essential Workers contact you to sign up for these free meals? email us at [email redacted]
Can you explain the meal cost? Sure. We are not making a profit from this service. We are an organic meal delivery service already and are expanding our packaging to ensure safety. COVID-19 presents risks to medical caregivers and Essential Workers. Thus, we vacuum seal each meal and deliver in a completely safe way. We recognize the long hours under stress in every hospital setting and given how difficult it is to put on and take off personal protection equipment (PPE) we want to ensure their meal is safe to eat at work or to take home and eat in privacy. Our meals meals ensure they get hyrdration, healthy, delicious food that will give a positive, supportive reminder of gratitude.
Why is Diane organizing? Diane is part of the Management Team at the Home Collaborative on Mercer Island where Chef Tamara is a member. Diane has been aware of the incredible worth ethic of Tamara, Dean and Keeley at The Custom Plate. She also knows of their big hearts and desire to support the community. Diane is simply facilitating and supporting what can be a meaningful endeavor to support our Essential Workers and harness the culinary talents at The Custom plate. Personally, Diane knows an Essential Worker who is now sick at home and whom would welcome a healthy meal.
Are there other ways I may help? Of course! If you have time to write a note of thanks to an Essential worker in email and send to Diane at [email redacted].
Please include details such as the name of the worker if you know or how you have benefitted from their efforts.
