Operation Feed Brooklyn is a grassroots organization working together to feed health care workers while getting restaurants in the area back to work.
Operation Feed Brooklyn started out when Michelle Zassenhaus started collecting money on Venmo to buy and send meals to health care workers through a local restaurant.
That day, just over a month ago, she says she raised about $1,000. Since then, she says the organization has raised over $57,000.
"Ordering food from the restaurants around the community for health care workers, they need some support, so it's like the local community supporting the local community,” says Zassenhaus.
The goal was to not only get food to essential workers, but to help the struggling restaurants and their food suppliers and to give people at home a way to help out during the pandemic.
"Ultimately, I think it's a win, win, win situation. It's a really good thing for us and our team, it's a great service for the hospital workers and for the people that are donating the money,” says Zassenhaus.
undefined
Alessandro Biggi says while his restaurant is closed to the public, they've been able to open up to provide 50 to 200 meals to hospitals and they're collaborating with other restaurants in Industry City as well.
“Restaurants are having a tough time and they've told us things like, ‘wow this gives our staff a paycheck,’” says Biggi.
Zassenhaus says the food deliveries are important because many hospitals' cafeterias are closed. But for the workers, it means so much more than just a meal.
"It's the morale knowing that the community is supporting you, knowing that this beautiful vibrant food is coming in,” says Zassenhaus.
Zassenhaus says health care workers can sign up on the Operation Feed Brooklyn website where restaurants and volunteers can register to help out as well.