Coronavirus Danbury: Cop's Wife's Campaign Fuels Local Eats Biz

DANBURY, CT — Kerri DeGross is killing two birds with one stone, Danbury-style.

When the sales executive at radio station 98Q saw how the new coronavirus scare was affecting her restaurant clients, (struggling to stay afloat), and Danbury police officer husband (struggling to stay awake), she connected the dots and created an online campaign to pay restaurants to get their food to healthcare workers, first responders and the elderly.

DeGross started a GoFundMe page to raise money to buy meals, treats and essential supplies for for those on the front lines fighting COVID-19. She uses the donations to order take-out from Danbury restaurants and brings the food to where it is most needed. The campaign has been active since last Thursday, and she made her first delivery on Friday night. As of Sunday night, she had raised $885 towards a goal of $5,000.

DeGross is shepherding the money through the local economy, from shut-in residents who want to do something to help their neighbors, into the hands of those working to slow the disease's spread and those most vulnerable to it. It's the ultimate municipal win-win scenario, in the Age of Coronavirus.

The federal government appears on the cusp of creating some kind of emergency program which might put a grand or more in everyone's pocket soon, but that's not even on DeGross' hyperlocal radar. Her "goal is to raise money through independent people — you, me, friends."

As pledges make their way to restaurants, and food to its final destination, DeGross keeps a running log of the action on the campaign's page:

MARCH 20, 2020 by Keri DeGross, Organizer: Second order in of the day, this time to the Danbury ER Nurses and Staff - the operator was very helpful when I called. Enjoy the Pizza, Salad, and Mozz sticks team, to be delivered about 4 PM today.

DeGross is keenly aware that as COVID-19 spreads, more businesses are shutting down, putting more people out of work. She says she is not looking for large donations.

"Every dollar helps, literally," she posted on her campaign page. "Think if every person in Danbury donated $5, the impact we could make."

DeGross says that she has gotten food delivery company Vroom Service on board with her campaign.

It's uncertain how long even take-out will be available from local eateries as the disease spreads. But if the restaurants that are providing take-out shut down, DeGross says she will buy gift cards with the pledged money, and keep the local economy fed, at least.

GoFundMe is a Patch Partner.