Donors are sending kosher food to thousands of hospital workers nationwide
Bethany Mandel put out a call on Twitter for people to send kosher pizza to healthcare workers battling in hard-hit metropolitan areas.
Mandel had no idea that her idea would send so much love and so much food to hospitals. Her idea for sending pizza developed into a full-fledged organization called Kosher19 in a matter of days.
Kosher19 is now run by a small group of volunteers placing orders around the country. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals get fresh and free kosher food delivered during their shifts. The project simultaneously helps local kosher restaurants stay open during to COVID-19 crisis.
All Volunteer Effort
The organization is making sure thousands of healthcare professionals of all backgrounds can continue saving lives, while staying appreciated and nourished. More than 10,000 healthcare workers at nearly 200 hospital units nationwide received meals in the last month.
Organization volunteer Dave Weinberg mentioned that, “We’ve received more than $75,000 in grassroots donations but the need is only growing.”
After hearing reports of hospital workers going without food, Kosher19 hopes to raise more than $250,000. Additional funds says Weinberg, “will help ensure healthcare heroes around the country can be nourished while saving lives.”
Feeling the Love
Kosher19 Founder Bethany Mandel shared with this letter she recently received from a Chief Resident at a major metropolitan New York Hospital:
We are extremely appreciative of the food that you have sent over to our staff. The delicious pizza and French fries go a long way in making us feel cared for and in physically repleting us as we serve on the front lines. We hope to eat and share in good health.
Kosher19 has other social media stars helping raise awareness and funds for the project. Dani Klein, an influencer on Instagram and publisher of the Kosher restaurant website YeahThatsKosher is helping direct people to Kosher19.
“I initially jumped on because I wanted to find a way to give back to those that are helping save peoples lives. I am not in a position save lives, but I wanted to find a way to do help. Through [Kosher19] I could both support front line health care workers and the small businesses in the kosher restaurant industry. Many of these owners I know personally through my work. It’s important we support the kosher restaurant industry so there is are kosher restaurants when this crisis is over.”
Kosher19 Coming to LA
Kosher19 will soon be delivering food to area hospitals in Los Angeles. If you are interested in helping launch Kosher19 in Los Angeles, please enter your information on the icanhelp.site and indicate on the form that you want to help with Kosher19.
Los Angeles Kosher restaurants, including Bibi’s, Pizza World and Psy Burger have organized their own food donations to area hospitals. They have sent breakfasts and lunches, depending on the hospitals and requests.
I spoke with local restauranteur Dan Messinger who runs Bibi’s Bakery and Cafe on Pico. Messinger has been active and creative in finding ways to donate food and stay in business though this crisis.
“Together with Pizza World we did a big delivery to Kaiser. We have sent muffins, cookies and bagels to Cedars. Some hospitals will take family style food like pizza, other’s have asked for individually portioned meals. Feeding hospital staff helps to replace the void of kosher catering orders, which was an impart revenue stream,” said Bibi’s owner Dan Messinger.
What inspired me about the Kosher19 initiative is that it takes the burden off the Kosher restaurants to collect the donations. Using donation platform Givebutter, you can easily make a tax-deductible donation of your cell phone to help hospital staffs and local kosher restaurants.
If you are able to make a donation — it costs about $13 a meal — and/or help fundraise for this cause, visit LA Kosher19’s page on Givebutter.
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