Nominate An UWS Senior For A Free Meal From These Restaurants

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — Upper West Siders wanting to help their elderly family members and friends during the coronavirus pandemic will soon be able to send them a meal from two neighborhood restaurants.

Owners at Cibo e Vino and Marlow Bistro are expanding a "Feed the UWS" meal delivery program they started to help feed essential workers to elderly New Yorkers who may be struggling during the pandemic.

The two restaurants, which share the same owners, started the program two weeks ago and have so far delivered about 1,800 meals to healthcare workers, firefighters, police officers and postal workers, according to the restaurants.

Now, New Yorkers can email either of the eateries to register an elderly family member or friend for a free meal.

The self-funded "Feed the UWS" program is one of several ways New York City restaurants have been keeping essential workers and vulnerable New Yorkers fed, even as they struggle to stay afloat during the pandemic's stay-at-home order.

Most recently, three nonprofits partnered to bring thousands of free meals to La Nueva España restaurant and the WaHi Diner and Hellenic Foundation partnered to bring meals to healthcare workers. Also in Manhattan, dozens of Flatiron eateries have donated meals to essential workers or set up funds to do so.

For Cibo e Vino and Marlow Bistro, which are on West 89th Street and Broadway and West 110th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, the food deliveries have gone to Mount Sinai Morningside, St. John the Divine Cathedral, the NYPD's 24th and 20th percents, firefighters at Battalion 11 and Engine 74 and postal workers at the 104th Street United States Postal Service station.

New Yorkers can help fund the program by going to their websites or by buying a gift card. All of the donated funds and 50 percent of the gift card purchases will go to the food delivery services. The gift cards do not expire and can be used for delivery, pick up or in future visits once the restaurants reopen.

To register an elderly family member or friend for the free meals, email ciboevinony@gmail.com and marlowbistro@gmail.com.