Feeding Brooklyn frontline medical workers: Charity with most impact happens close to home

April 30, 2020 Editorial Staff

Medical workers cheered for pedestrians and FDNY firefighters who gathered to applaud them outside The Brooklyn Hospital Center on April 14, 2020. Photo: John Minchillo/AP

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The nonprofit organization Downtown Brooklyn Partnership announced today that, in less than a week, it has surpassed its initial goal of raising $25,000 to buy meals from local restaurants for frontline workers at The Brooklyn Hospital Center. DBP is partnering with Myrtle Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, and Montague Street BIDs on an ongoing initiative to support the workforce and local businesses during this difficult time.

The campaign, which set an initial fundraising goal of $25,000, has so far raised more than $30,000 in two weeks to provide approximately 3,000 meals and counting for essential workers. But as the crisis extends into the Spring and The Brooklyn Hospital Center remains an epicenter in the fight against Coronavirus, DBP and its partners are encouraging people to continue to donate in order to provide additional meals.

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Regina Myer. Photo courtesy of DBP

The Brooklyn Hospital Center has served the Downtown Brooklyn community since 1845, and serves many in the community who are reliant on publicly funded healthcare, many of whom live in the communities that have been hit hardest by the coronavirus.

“We started this campaign to support the frontline workers at The Brooklyn Hospital Center who are saving lives everyday, while also helping give business to our local restaurants that may be struggling,” said DBP President Regina Myer. “Working with our partners at Myrtle Ave, Atlantic Ave, and Montague Street BIDs, we have been absolutely blown away by the generosity of our fellow Brooklynites at this critical moment. To date, we will be able to provide more than two thousand meals. We are tremendously grateful to the workers for their bravery and hard work, and thank everyone who contributed to help us meet — and go beyond — our goal.”

The Brooklyn Hospital Center President and CEO Gary G. Terrinoni. Photo: Paul Frangipane/Brooklyn Eagle

“The community’s generosity has so moved us here at TBHC — the cards from school children, the donations of PPE, the 7 pm clapping — all have lifted our staff’s spirits tremendously. But the meals are perhaps the most precious gift,” said Gary G. Terrinoni, president and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center. “This food feeds our souls as much as our bodies. They are a constant reminder of the care with which we, as a community, are watching out for each other.”

The donation page and a list of participating restaurants may be found here.