In typical New Orleans fashion, the community has banded together to use our individual skills and resources to serve the community in this time of crisis as a whole. Many groups and individual restaurants are now offering ways to send donation-backed meals to frontline healthcare workers and first responders. If you have the means, this is a great way to simultaneously help our restaurants get through this time while bringing some joy to a healthcare worker and thanking them for their unrelenting efforts.
Nola Doc Project
The Nola Doc Project is a donation-based service designed specifically to support medical residents on the frontlines of Covid units.You can donate directly to their GoFundMe page here, and the money will be used to support local restaurants wanting to help.
Red Beans Parade
A non-profit organization that’s banded together to provide food to healthcare workers around the city. Their formula is brilliant: using donations from you, The Krewe of Red Beans buys meals from a group of local restaurants and hires out of work musicians and artists to deliver it to Hospital Heroes. To read more about The Krewe of Red Beans, the restaurants they’re supporting, and how to donate, click here.
Chef’s Brigade
The Chef’s Brigade is another donation based food service to support both frontline medical workers and first responders. Their format is a bit different from the others-they group together 10 local restaurants who cook simple meals out of their own kitchens and deliver them to the healthcare facility and NOPD districts they are paired with. Their expenses are covered by a weekly stipend backed by donations from their GoFundMe page. Read more and donate here.
Deswine Intervention
Since Hogs for the Cause got cancelled this year, the Deswine Intervention team has shifted their focus to a new cause by feeding frontline healthcare workers. You can donate directly to the nonprofit here, or attend their Good Friday crawfish boil and fish fry at Nola Brewing. All proceeds from the event will go towards meals for frontline fighters. Preorder here.
Individual Restaurants
There have also been several restaurants who’ve taken the initiative to feed the frontlines on their own. Here are those we know of and how to donate to them.
Sticks BBQ has started their Buy a Box, Feed a Hero initiative. Donate $10 here to feed a meal to a healthcare worker on the frontlines of the Covid crisis. Don’t forget to get a BBQ lunch for yourself as well!
Meribo has begun accepting donations to provide assistance to frontline healthcare workers. Donations are being accepted as direct food orders through Meribo, energy drinks, coffee drinks, and cash donations (preferred). Goods can be dropped off at the restaurant’s Old Covington location, and cash donations can be sent via Venmo to @gavinjobe or via PayPal gavinjobe1@gmail.com. Call (985) 302-5533 for more information.
Cafe Reconcile has begun to open weekly to provide meals to their alumni in need. Donate here to help them continue to provide these meals.
Buddy’s Kitchen is accepting donations to feed healthcare workers, emergency responders, service industry workers in need, and anyone else on the frontlines of Covid. Donations are accepted via donation box at the restaurant, or call (504) 834-6315.
Main Squeeze Juice Co. is now delivering their immune-boosting Cure Shots and Superfood Smoothies to frontline healthcare workers, as well as offering a 50% discount to healthcare workers on to-go orders. To donate, go to www.squeezeoutcovid.com.
Fat Boy’s Pizza is delivering donation-backed pizzas to healthcare workers and first responders. Call 504-345-2182 to place your donated order.
The Ruby Slipper Cafe is offering brunch delivery donations to the Greater New Orleans area. You can donate to a specific recipient, or make a general donation which will be sent to first responders, medical workers, and sanitation workers. Fill out the donation form here.
Toups’ Meatery has been offering daily free family meals to anyone in need, specifically service industry workers. They are doing this out of their own pocket, but donations will be gladly accepted. Funds can be sent via Venmo to @toupsmeatery, via PayPal to isaac@toupsmeatery.com, or call 504-252-4999.
Southern’s Food is delivering donation-backed meals to healthcare workers. To donate, send them a message on Instagram @southernsfood, or Venmo Peter-cruz-43343 with “Food Donation” in the notes.
Sun Ray Grill has begun donating Meals for Medicine alongside Jambalaya Girl, Chisesi Bros. and Sysco. Contact the restaurant to donate meals.
Chafunkta Brewing Co. is offering free crowlers to medical professionals and first responders. Donate using the form on their website here.
Forward Fitness, while not a restaurant, has found a way to support local restaurants, frontline workers, and you! Sign up for one of their donation-based live stream fitness classes, and they will use 100% of the proceeds to buy a meal from a local restaurant for a frontline worker. Read all the details and sign up here.
If you are a restaurant offering this service and would like to be added to this list, please send me the details and donation links at maryleigh@nomenu.com.
