Feed The Fight Alexandria Gives Meals To Health Care Workers

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Feed the Fight DC has expanded to Alexandria as a way to give back to health care workers on the front lines of the new coronavirus crisis and support local restaurants. Ali Whitley and Jennifer Kearney Desiderio launched Feed the Fight ALX last week and are providing at least 50 to 120 meals each day.

The effort stemmed from Feed the Fight DC, started in February by Whitley and Desiderio's friend Elena Tompkins. It doubles as a way to keep local restaurants operating and to thank health care workers with meal deliveries. Since its launch, over 10,000 meals have been delivered to health care workers and first responders.

Feed the Fight ALX provides meal deliveries on Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital and local urgent care centers. Desiderio tells Patch they plan to expand the effort to first responders at fire stations.

"Overall there has been a huge demand," said Desiderio. "We are planning to do this for the foreseeable future as long as we have the funds."

Meal deliveries are coordinated by examining needs at the hospitals each day. Partnering restaurants on board to help so far include Alexandria Restaurant Partners, Neighborhood Provisions, Bagel Uprising, Chop Shop Taco, Taqueria Poblano, District Taco and Great Harvest Bread Co. Meals are individually wrapped and dropped off to a contactless cart outside the hospital.

Desiderio says the meal deliveries give health care workers one less thing to worry about, while restaurants are grateful to have the business. According to Feed the Fight ALX, Chop Shop Taco delivered 500 tacos to Inova Mount Vernon Wednesday and Mia's Italian Kitchen delivered 45 dinners the next day.

The amount of meals Feed the Fight ALX can deliver is dependent on donations. The public can help by donating at feedthefight.org/donate or volunteering to deliver meals by emailing Allisonjdwhitley@gmail.com or Jennifer@hwy116.com. Donors should specify the area where the contribution should go to; one option is Alexandria and Fairfax. Donations are tax deductible.

"It doesn't matter how big or how small [the donation]," said Desiderio. "They're still providing a meal for someone."