Buzz

Dozens of restaurants are giving free food to healthcare workers and first responders or setting up donations for vulnerable New Yorkers.

By Anna Quinn, Patch Staff Apr 6, 2020

Dozens of restaurants are bringing free food and coffee to healthcare workers or setting up donations to help with the coronavirus pandemic. (Sweetcatch Poke, used with permission)

FLATIRON, NY — Manhattan’s healthcare workers will have their choice of dozens of local eateries to keep them fed and caffeinated while fighting the coronavirus pandemic — for free.

Even as they face the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic themselves, more than 20 Flatiron eateries have stepped up to help those on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic with free food, coffee or by donating to those most impacted, according to the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership.

“In the face of unprecedented challenges with COVID-19, our local businesses in Flatiron and NoMad are rising to the occasion to support frontline healthcare workers, first responders and vulnerable New Yorkers,” Executive Director James Mettham said.

“These businesses represent the best of our community. Their efforts are even more selfless considering that they are working hard just to stay open during this extremely difficult time.”

Many of the relief efforts include free food or coffee deliveries to those fighting the coronavirus in New York City’s hospitals or to first responders who stop by.

Other businesses have decided to donate a portion of their revenue to charities helping during the pandemic or are creating care packages for New Yorkers who may need them.

The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership has created a webpage rounding up all of these efforts, including links where people can provide support, along with a separate page with fundraisers for the neighborhood’s restaurants and restaurant workers.

Here’s a look at the initiatives so far:

For healthcare workers:

Sweetcatch Poke: Serving free poke bowls to hospital workers when they step into any Sweetcatch location and present a valid ID. Sweetcatch also delivered free poke bowls to local NYC hospitals.