Serving the Community By Serving Meals: Over 15,000 Meals Delivered
Chicago Food Truck Hub is proud to announce that, thanks to collaborations with partner organizations and the generous donations of our customers, we marked a special milestone of surpassing 15,000 meals delivered to the amazing healthcare heroes of the greater Chicago area. When this effort was first initiated, our team pivoted from creating exciting and engaging food truck events to mobilizing our network of over 100 food trucks, restaurants and other catering partners to create boxed meals for frontline medical workers, our Healthcare Heroes. We did not anticipate that this effort would gain the interest that it did, yet through broad support and an outpouring of kindness, Chicago Food Truck Hub was able to connect those interested in supporting frontline workers with an opportunity to provide a tangible and meaningful avenue to do so. This effort is truly a testament to so many incredible people, communities, and organizations who recognized the need to act and were eager to show their appreciation for the thousands of first responders putting their own health at risk to help others during these challenging and quite unprecedented times.
How You Helped
So many first responders have been dedicating their time and energy to serve the community and those in need. Especially at the height of the pandemic, these Healthcare Heroes were not afforded the luxury of resting or taking normal breaks for meals. A break may be reduced to quickly chowing down a granola bar, chomping on an apple, or inhaling a cup of coffee. These capeless heroes are certainly not able to stop their important work to place a food order or leave the premises to find a nourishing, warm meal or a healthy salad and sandwich. Chicago Food Truck Hub’s initiative was to create a campaign where people could express their interest in buying quality meals for these frontline Healthcare Heroes as a way of thanking them for their contributions and ensuring that they are also cared for and nurtured. Through Chicago Food Truck Hub’s website page dedicated to COVID-19 support efforts, visitors are able to review more information on how to sponsor a single meal, several meals, or to even provide food for an entire department or facility.
After expressing intent to support our effort to give back to Healthcare Heroes, Chicago Food Truck Hub’s team contacted each individual interested in contributing, reviewing the different types of meals they could provide. Of course, our fantastic food truck partners have been heavily involved in this endeavor and prepared thousands of meals, but we also engaged and continue to work with a wide variety of small restaurants and private caterers who offer delectable cuisine as well. Once the meal was selected, the food was freshly prepared and delivered on the day of the donor’s choosing.
In addition to individuals and companies who provided support for these Healthcare Heroes’ meals, Chicago Food Truck Hub worked alongside two partners to provide valuable contributions. Give InKind partnered with Chicago Food Truck Hub to deliver over 1,000 on National Superhero Day, a fitting nod to the efforts and dedication of Healthcare Heroes. Since its early days, Chicago Food Truck Hub selected Fight2Feed as its charitable partner. Together with Fight2Feed’s team, Chicago Food Truck Hub mobilized its food truck partners to distribute 5,000 warm meals to those in need.
Who You Helped
So who are these Healthcare Heroes? They are the dedicated teams who formed COVID-19 units, the doctors and nurses of the ER and ICU as well as a variety of critical care hospital teams. They are also the medical care staff at nursing homes and senior living facilities. They are part of the fabric of our community that heals us. Your aid provides them with gratitude, recognition and sustenance to continue in their fight.
A notable side effect from the meal support for Healthcare Heroes is the lift that it brought to small businesses. As COVID-19 continues to impact society, many companies have been forced to reduce their operations, temporarily close or shut their doors permanently. The restaurant and catering scenes are no exceptions and have been hit hard. Chicago Food Truck Hub’s effort to support Healthcare Heroes also directly supported our partners who have worked tirelessly and in more difficult working environments to make and deliver these meals. These partners are worthy of gratitude and support, and include dozens of Chicago Food Truck Hub’s network of partners, including food trucks, caterers and restaurants. By supporting Healthcare Heroes, we have also been able to provide a huge boost to these small businesses, who have been able to maintain staff, hire back furloughed workers and kept their doors open to serve the frontline and their dedicated customers. Your support for Healthcare Heroes’ meals not only acknowledges the frontline teams in our community, but it also protects small businesses and saves jobs, making this endeavor even more worthwhile and humbling.
Although we remain hopeful, the current situation has yet to significantly improve, meaning medical teams will continue their work on the frontlines. As long as these tireless Healthcare Heroes need to keep up their good work, Chicago Food Truck Hub will continue to provide you with the option to show your thanks and support through a warm meal.