#NewsFlash | Queens Launches ‘Fuel the Frontlines’ Program to Feed Health Workers
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, the Queens Economic Development Corporation, and the Queens Night Market have joined forces to provide thousands of ready-to-go, “home-cooked” meals for workers across the borough’s nine acute-care hospitals that are battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning on March 29 and fully funded by Borough President Lee, “Fuel the Frontlines” supports medical professionals working long, difficult hours, while also supporting local small businesses facing severe economic disruption stemming from the public health crisis. The meals will be prepared by small businesses enrolled in QEDC’s Entrepreneur Space, a commercial kitchen incubator in Long Island City, and vendors who participate in the Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Many meals will be transported to the hospitals by the Port Authority of NY & NJ.
At a clip of 250 per hospital, the meals will be packaged in individual containers and could be kept refrigerated to be heated and eaten at the workers’ convenience. Participants include:
- Arepalicious of Ozone Park,@arepaliciousny
- Caribbean Street Eats, @caribbeanstreeteats
- Cooking with Corey, @cookingwithcorey
- Dotty’s Norwegian Kitchen, @pinkysspace
- KINI of Long Island City, @kini_lic
- La’Maoli, @lamaoli_
- Magnolia Café, @magnoliacafepf
- The Malaysian Project, @themalaysianproject
- Quiaufa’s Kitchen, @chefsherriscatering
- Roastnco of Forest Hills, @roastnco
- Treat Yourself Jerk Chicken
- Two Tablespoons, @twotbsp
Funding is in place for one week, but the organizers hope to inspire subsequent donations from corporate and individual sponsors to extend and/or expand the initiative. Potential sponsors can call 718.286.3000 or email info@queensbp.org with the subject line “Fuel the Frontlines.” QEDC and the Queens Night Market will waive any related administrative costs.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has produced two-front battles waged by heroic frontline workers and business owners,” said Borough President Lee. “’Fuel the Frontlines’ is one hyper-local yet immediate step to support those trying to stem the tide and bend the curves of this unprecedented public health and economic crisis. In this race against time, our trajectory depends entirely on not just what we do, but when we do it. All across Queens, frontline workers and medical professionals are moving mountains around the clock with extraordinary acts of heroism, using all tools and resources available to save each and every single life. Queens is deeply grateful, and we know every single minute counts.”
“I am glad our Entrepreneur Space clients are part of the effort to provide medical caregivers on the frontlines with meals that will give them the sustenance to carry on and continue to protect our communities,” said QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein.
“While we’re extremely disappointed that we won’t be opening up the Queens Night Market in April this year like originally intended, we’re committed to making a positive impact while we’re all hunkered down during this crisis,” said Queens Night Market founder John Wang. “We hope this project can provide some small businesses with a modest but important stream of revenue during these challenging economic times. But most of all, we hope that our collective contributions will be matched by corporations and generous individuals who want to help out those battling this pandemic and caring for those in need on the frontlines.”
Images: Arepalicious (top); Quiaufa’s Kitchen (bottom)