FOOD FOR THE FRONT LINES BRINGS MEALS TO NEW HAVEN 1st RESPONDERS

NEW HAVEN, CT — As the coronavirus outbreak puts a strain on front-line workers and small businesses, a local company wants to address both at the same time in New Haven County. Food for the Front Lines is being spearheaded by two local business owners to deliver meals to healthcare facilities, fire stations, police stations, and rehabilitation centers.

Food for the Front Lines pays local restaurants to provide the meals and coordinates delivery to front-line workers. The effort is being spearheaded by Matthew Peterson, president and owner of Homewatch CareGivers of New Haven and Suzanne Cannon founder and former owner of Eli Cannons Tap Room in Middletown. The pair reached out to local health care facilities and recruited local restaurant owners to have their employees cook the meals. So far these restaurants — Cast Iron Chef Chop House & Oyster Bar, Chip’s Family Restaurants, Mediterranea Café, Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, The Sitting Duck Tavern and local snack company Love the Kick — have provided meals since the effort started on March 22.

The effort started when Peterson discussed with a friend, Nicole Straight, what she was doing in Westport to support local hospital and emergency medical workers. While Peterson and Cannon couldn't help with personal protective equipment, delivering meals to workers was an option. Peterson started by personally buying and sending 20 meals to the emergency room nurses at the Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus.

"The concept is feed a hero, keep a business open," Peterson said.

Food for the Front Lines is possible through community donations, which go toward the cost of preparing the meals at restaurants. Its GoFundMe and Facebook fundraising pages have generated some funding, and Peterson and Cannon have pitched in the legwork and some extra money to cover the costs. With enough community support, Food for the Front Lines can continue providing meals for at least 30 days.

Peterson coordinate with hospitals and other recipients to determine where meals go each day. Cannon coordinates with the restaurants. On Wednesday, April 15, Food for the Front Lines provided lunches to the West Haven Campus of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. The Friday delivery will include meals to Bridgeport Hospital Milford Campus and other recipients. For hospital deliveries, Food for the Front Lines notifies their contact about a delivery and leaves the meals outside due to visitor restrictions.

Depending on donations and restaurant participation, Food for the Front Lines can provide more meals. In fact, Peterson would be on board with 1,000 meals delivered per day.

"If I can get enough funding and 10 restaurants to do 100 meals a day, we can do that," he said.

The public can help provide Food for the Front Lines continue by donating on GoFundMe and Facebook. Homewatch CareGivers of New Haven opened in March in New Haven and is family owned and operated.

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