—Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the official launch of the City's Emergency Food Coordination Center at Malcolm X College in partnership with The Salvation Army and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This coordination center ensures that all who have tested positive or have been asked to quarantine by healthcare officials have access to food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents who are homebound and quarantined due to COVID-19 who need direct food deliveries and do not qualify for existing food support services can call 3-1-1 and will be referred to the new Chicago Emergency Food Coordination Center. The coordination center will run daily ( Sunday through Saturday ) at 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Also, the broader senior community that do not have alternate food sources are encouraged to contact the Department of Family and Support Services' call center at 312-746-4016 ( Monday through Friday ) 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for the Meals on Wheels Program.
—As an extension of their 20-plus-year relationship, Pampered Chef and the American Cancer Society announced a nationwide partnership in order to support free temporary housing for front-line health care workers during the outbreak of COVID-19. Effective now through May, Pampered Chef will contribute $1 for every purchase of its Mix 'N Chop ( $15 ) and up to 30 percent of total sales from virtual fundraiser shows to help offset the operating costs of American Cancer Society's 34 Hope Lodge locations across the nation. See Cancer.org/HopeLodgeFund.
—Hudsonville Ice Cream is bringing back its Random Acts of Ice Cream program to help people say thank you to the doctors, nurses, first responders and other healthcare workers who are essential in the fight against COVID-19.
Hudsonville is accepting nominations for Random Acts of Ice Cream at Link Here , with plans to ship a number of boxes each week. Nominators can share why the healthcare hero in their lives should receive an ice cream pick-me-up, and Hudsonville will coordinate with selected nominators to gather shipping information and send the care package without any effort or time required of the recipient.
—For the past two weekends, Gold Coast barbecue spot Chicago q ( which is otherwise closed during the pandemic ) has been feeding the homeless as well as healthcare workers.
—Home Run Inn is donating 5,000 six-inch personal-sized frozen cheese pizzas to essential workers at 300 Chicago Public Schools. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Home Run Inn is committed to feeding more than 75,000 police, fire and hospital first responders as well as people in need throughout April.
—In support of Culinary Care's expanded mission to provide nutritious, locally sourced meals to cancer treatment centers, Chicago-based restaurant incubator Foodworks is teaming with the organization to connect them with Foodworks' restaurant partners while also raising funds through a GoFundMe page to allow Culinary Care to sustain increased demand. The initiative offers a three-for-one solution for people looking to give back during the COVID-19 crisis: every donation supports a local restaurant while also providing much-needed nutritious meals to hospital personnel and cancer patients. Visit Website Link Here .
—Starbucks is extending its free coffee giveaway for first responders and health care workers serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic through May 31, USA Today noted. The retail giant said, "Any customer who identifies as a first responder or front-line worker supporting the health care industry" will receive a free tall brewed coffee, either hot or iced. The offer is for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and hospital and medical staff and researchers.
