Geno Auriemma's Restaurant Cooking For Coronavirus Front-Liners

MANCHESTER, CT — Staffers at the Manchester restaurant owned by University of Connectcut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma have been making the rounds over the past few days, supplying those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic with meals.

On Monday, the staff of Care Aura made stops at both Westside Care Center and ICare Health Network in Manchester woth food for all three shifts.

Shortly after the visit, Auriemma said it was a matter of paying it forward to his hometown and those who have supported his causes and his teams over the years.

"The people in this state have given me so much, and you don’t always have a chance to give back like this," Auriemma said. "We’re so grateful for all that our medical providers and first-responders are doing, and we want to be here for them, the same way the Manchester community has supported us. In times like this, we all have to take care of each other. Providing meals is our way of saying thank you, showing support and most importantly, taking care of those that take care of everyone else."

(@connfoodandfarm/used with permission)

Last week, the Cafe Aura staff made meals for 200 healthcare workers at Manchester Memorial Hospital.

Plans are to feed Manchester police and also fire, ambulance and other first-responders, Cafe Aura business manager Todd Stigliano said.

"We saw the need," he said. "They are all working long hours, we have the food and it is a good way to say thanks."

The meals are being delivered despite the business decision to shut down after Monday's dinner shift, Stigliano said. For about a week, Cafe Aura was doing curbside pickup, but the time has come to let the staff, "be safe and home with family," he said.