Thanksgiving Care for the Caregivers
Care for the Caregivers
Donate to provide a Thanksgiving Meal to frontline health workers in Portland.
A benefit put together by Food Dude from Portland Food and Drink:
As you know, COVID-19 has been sweeping our communities. Last week, I heard from a nurse from the COVID ward at Emanuel Hospital in Portland. She wrote, "Hi there!! I’m a nurse and I work in the ECMO ICU at Emanuel hospital caring for COVID patients. I’m working the day of Thanksgiving and normally the unit and all my coworkers do a big potluck. It’s the one thing that makes it less painful to have to work and be away from family & friends. This year the hospital just mandated no potlucks, shared food, and no eating together. I am messaging to see if you know if there are any restaurants that you think would consider feeding us on Thanksgiving..."
I couldn't let her request go unanswered, and with the help of many in our restaurant community, we are going to make sure everyone gets as homey a Thanksgiving dinner as a boxed meal can provide. Dave Bertelo of Haymaker Bar & Eatery Jehnee Rains of Suzette Crêperie , and Aaron Silverman of Tails & Trotters Butcher and Sandwich Counter are working together to get doctors, nurses, and therapists on the COVID ward a warm Thanksgiving meal.
We'll be delivering complete meals in individual portioned boxes to the hospital on Thanksgiving. Here's where you come in. As you know, Restaurants are hurting. Though they have all promised to chip in as much as they can, I don't want it to cost them anything. Instead, I would like to make sure they not only break even on the food, but their staff gets paid for their time and are tipped. In other words, I want it to be a normal working night for them; a gift from all of us that benefits restaurants and hospital caregivers.
We would have loved to help out at other hospitals too, but this was an 11th-hour project. Even if you are not interested in helping out here, please consider donating to your local food bank; they need it!
(photo from KGW news )
Adding up the numbers, I came up with $3,200. I know this is a difficult time for all of us, but if you can help defray these costs by donating to our Go Fund Me, we would really appreciate it. 100% of your donations will go to the restaurants and vendors involved in this project. PFD will not be a beneficiary. Your donation will cover the costs for our participating restaurants for ingredients, staffing, and tips. We will account for every dollar and are happy to share the figures with anyone who asks. When we reach our goal, we will stop collecting money. If any funds are left over after the final accounting, they will be donated to the Oregon Food Bank. I can't imagine this happening, but, if for some reason the dinners are canceled, 100% of the money raised will be donated to the Toy Drive. 2.9% + .32 cents per donation go to Go Fund Me charges.
I'm going to donate the cash I would normally spend on Thanksgiving in a normal year. Can you help too? Head over to our Go Fund Me page; your donation will be greatly appreciated by those working on this project. A huge thank you to everyone who has volunteered or donated to this project We couldn't do it without you. Stay safe, be well, and thanks for supporting one another, Food Dude. Thanks to Lizzy Caston, from Alberta Main Street for setting up the Go Fund Me.
