Restaurants in Patchogue that have been deemed nonessential and have been shut down are finding a way to make a difference during the pandemic.

A number of restaurants are serving local health care workers.

They pack a truck twice a day with hundreds of hot meals and deliver them to Stony Brook University Hospital and the Brookhaven Health Care Facility.

Scottie Campbell, the owner of PeraBell, is one of nearly a dozen downtown restaurants participating.

"It's really rewarding," said Campbell. "You got to see the faces on these nurses when they come and get the food. They've been working tireless hours, and they really do appreciate what we've been doing."

Michael White with GreaterPatchogue.com was asked to launch a GoFundMe site to sponsor the restaurants a little more than two weeks ago. It's already garnered over $24,000.

The NYPD is also donating meals to Stony Brook University Hospital.

MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond 
TRACKER: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut coronavirus cases and deaths