Coronavirus: New Castle Raises $50K-Plus To Feed Nurses, Doctors

CHAPPAQUA, NY – The Town of New Castle is raising money via a GoFundMe campaign to provide meals to health care providers and first responders. In just four days, the effort has raised more than $50,000 to help feed those on the front lines fighting the new coronavirus pandemic.

"In the absence of having a stock of surgical masks and gowns in most of our closets, we wanted to come up with a way the community could support our health care providers on the front lines," Georgia Frasch said. "Knowing that these people are working double shifts with limited supplies, not seeing their families and daily exposure to the virus, we are hoping to provide them with some nourishment and comfort to show our gratitude and respect for all that they are doing to keep us healthy.”

Given the rapid and generous response — the drive started only Wednesday — the organizers believe they will be able to raise substantially more funds over the next few weeks while increasing the number of meals they are providing.

With the peak of the infection still projected to be weeks away, they wanted to do something for health care workers. They also wanted to help their local restaurants, which are struggling with the restrictions that have been imposed.

Frasch, a local mom and the administrator of Facebook Chappaqua Moms Group, worked with former New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein and Deborah Garfield Weitzen, also a local mom and legal recruiter with Howard-Sloan Legal Search, to launch the GoFundMe campaign to accomplish both objectives.

The money raised is being used to pay local restaurants to prepare meals that are being delivered to Northern Westchester Hospital, Westchester Medical Center, Phelps Hospital, White Plains Hospital, and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, as well as local first response units such as the Mount Kisco Ambulance Service. Meals feeding between 20 and 300 people have already been delivered to multiple hospitals.

"So many of our residents were looking for ways to help those heroes on the front line of this battle," Greenstein said. "They also want to help our incredible local restaurants who are really hurting right now. This initiative accomplishes both. The response has been overwhelming. Our residents are so generous, and the doctors, nurses and staff have been so grateful!”

Garfield Weitzen said the grassroots group is in touch with and will be providing meals to several units at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, including its emergency room, various patient floors and the pediatric intensive care unit. They are also delivering into Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Hospital and White Plains Hospital, and they are working with the senior engagement officer at Westchester Medical Center to coordinate delivery of 100-150 meals three times a day to cover staff on all campuses, all consistent with infection control.

"People should reach out to us if they are affiliated with an institution that wants to be included, and we will gladly get them up and running," Garfield Weitzen said.

Participating Restaurants

• Le Jardin du Roi
• Crabtree’s Kittle House Restaurant
• Ibiza Kitchen
• Quaker Hill Tavern
• Lange’s Little Store
• Old Stone Trattoria
• Pizza Station
• Taco Street
• Rocky’s Millwood Deli
• Villarina’s Deli & Catering

SEE:

New Castle Coronavirus Volunteers Feed Hospitals, Help Eateries