Local Eats 4 Heroes

A few short weeks ago, as we all well know, the entire world was turned upside down with the threat of COVID-19. Suddenly every single thing is different and many people are now risking their health - and their family's as well -  to go to work every day to keep the rest of us safe, healthy, and our basic necessities met. Others are shell-shocked as their businesses were abruptly closed or drastically altered, especially restaurants.

Seems only logical to feed this brave group of heroes at the forefront of the crisis while at the same time supporting the people who desperately need more business to stay afloat. After talking with dear friends on the front lines, and through my work as a photographer in the restaurant/food industries where I've met so many great people, I came up with a simple idea to support both groups with one donation. 





I've been buying simple boxed meals from local restaurants who then prepare and deliver that nourishing and delicious food to nurses at hospitals, fire fighters, and police departments - anyone supporting the frontline efforts in the fight against this disease and the effects it's having on our community. This is how #LocalEats4Heroes started.



What I’ve learned is that a lot of you think this is a great idea but no one knows where to start, and so please let me use my love of sorting out logistics to do this for us all! It takes some time and persistence, but I enjoy it - and obviously am not working right now, so it feels wonderful to contribute in this way. It makes a lot of people happy and appreciated.

Meals have been running at roughly $10-15pp and so, to begin with, when approximately $200 accumulates, I will arrange for a local restaurant to deliver to the first responders and then I'll keep you all posted on the proceedings. Keep an eye out for updates so you can share in the joy that you're helping to foster!




Once this crisis passes, if there are funds left over, I will either find a way to use them for more of the same, or will donate to the Cleveland Tip Jar fund.


When #LocalEats4Heroes began in mid-March, before this GoFundMe was started, some of the stories included:

Dinner for all three shifts at CFD Station 11 from Saucisson and Annabella Andricks. 24 firefighters fed for the cost of a nice dinner out for four.

A moms’ group in Charlotte inspired by this idea raised over $2000 to feed our heroes with food from local restaurants at multiple local hospitals!

Eighty Heinen's associates in Rocky River were treated to hot lunches by Al's Diner (this was a donation by the owners who wanted to use all of the food that was left when they decided to close for now).

Slymans boxed lunches were sent for the staff at a Cleveland dialysis center by the sister of one of the nurses there in honor of the one year anniversary of the death of her mother-in-law, “a kick-ass nurse” from Ireland. (Some of the recipients had never had a Slyman’s corned beef sandwich!! That is a good deed right there!)

Twelve nurses on the transplant floor at the Cleveland Clinic received lunch from one of their fathers-in-law, delivered by Luna Bakery Cafe.

The Solon PD day shift received lunches from The Butcher's Pantry.

A break room box from Perfectly Imperfect Produce, filled with fresh fruit, was delivered to the CFD Station 31 in Collinwood.

Fifty nurses at MetroHealth and the Cleveland V.A. Hospital received boxed lunches from Zaytoon Lebanese Kitchen.

The staff at a Stow dentist’s office received lunch from a local favorite restaurant by a good friend of the hygienist.





Thank you to Breanna Kulkin for this photo from Lox Stock and Brisket from the 4/20/20 lunch delivery!