Essential Support for Essential Workers

ESSENTIAL SUPPORT FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS:
HELPING METRO’S HEROES AND WEST MICHIGAN RESTAURANTS

Because not all heroes wear capes … Many wear scrubs or aprons!


Can you spare $12 to buy lunch from a local restaurant for a West Michigan font-line healthcare worker? That’s what it will cost to buy one meal for one worker from one local restaurant participating in this program.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant has impacted nearly every facet of life in West Michigan. Most of us who are fortunate enough to still be working are doing so from home (some while also home schooling their children!), but many of our friends and neighbors have lost their jobs, either temporarily or permanently, as a result of efforts to control this virus. We see the reports of the sickness and death; we hear about all of the businesses, large and small, that have been closed either in the interest of public health and safety or because of the economic devastation brought on by the aggressive steps needed to flatten the curve.

We have also heard the stories and seen the efforts of many wonderful neighbors who have volunteered their talents, making masks and ear protectors and face shields and other forms of PPE for our hospital workers. We have been inspired by the companies, large and small, who have donated PPE and hand sanitizer and other supplies to our hospitals.

And yet, we know that people are still struggling.

Perhaps you have wanted to help, but don’t know how. If so, we invite you to join our campaign to help two of the groups in our community who have been hardest hit by the pandemic: restaurant workers and health care providers.

"Essential Support for Essential Workers" is a way for donors to buy a meal for Metro Health employees who are on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, risking their lives to treat those sick and dying from the novel virus. It is a simple gesture to thank them for their dedicated service – picking up the cost of a meal to ease their burden and bring comfort to those who dedicate their lives to comforting and helping others.

All meals will be purchased from local restaurants, including those whose names appear below. Many of these locally-owned and operated businesses have been forced to cut back dramatically, sometimes laying off long-term employees, because they could no longer serve sit-down meals. As explained in Bridge magazine, https://www.bridgemi.com/business-watch/scary-times-michigan-restaurants-wont-end-when-dining-rooms-reopen:  "Coronavirus is still battering the state’s restaurant industry, which lost $1.2 billion in sales in April and saw 75 percent of workers laid off. Switching to carry-out and opening for fewer patrons may not be enough to survive."

Everything that you donate (other than whatever transaction fees are charged by GoFundMe) will go directly to helping these two groups: your favorite local restaurants and our heroes working in the Metro Health - University of Michigan Health system – those on the frontline who are literally placing their lives at risk to protect us, our families, and our community. Our goal is to pay for 50 meals every other day for a month. If we exceed our goal, we will either extend the length of time that we offer meals, or expand the scope of our program to other front-line medical providers.

Please help if you can, as much (or as little) as you can. Every dollar is gratefully accepted.

Thanks for considering this request!

Dan Baker (Baker Books)
Wayne & Mary Baxter (MAW Ventures d/b/a FLAIRWOOD)
Dirk Bloemendaal (Amway)
Bruce Courtade (Rhoades McKee)
Len Dyer (USI)
Michael and Lynette Ellis (Ellis Parking)
Bob Kaser (Grand Rapids Griffins)
Greg Metz (Lott3Metz)
Mike and Christina Rosloniec
Charlie and Elizabeth Secchia
Paul Solberg (RW Baird)

Partial List of Participating Restaurants:

* Aisle 9 Events * Amore Trattoria * Donkey Taqueria * Dykhouse Catering * Garage Bar * Graydon’s Crossing * Hancock * Kitchen 67 * Kloosterman’s Sports Tap  * Little Bird/Kingfisher * Lucy's Café  *  Maru / Ando Sushi  *  Olives  *  Vitale’s (Allegan) *  Vitale’s (Leonard)  *  Yo Chef's Café *