Our country’s healthcare workers are putting their lives on the line as hospitals respond to the influx of COVID-19 patients. Many are working extra hours and staying on site longer. In response to the growing strain on these professionals, the James M. Cox Foundation, Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation and the Douglas J. Hertz Family Foundation announced a $250,000 donation to help feed frontline workers serving in emergency rooms, ICUs and critical care wards at 19 Atlanta hospitals.
The foundations will partner with eight restaurants and catering groups, providing meals to more than 8,000 frontline workers. The meals will be served weekly through May 1.
The meal donation will go to workers at hospitals operated by Emory Healthcare, Grady Health System, Piedmont Healthcare, the Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Northside Hospital and Wellstar Health System.
“Every day our health care workers are leaving the safety of their homes and putting themselves in harm’s way in order to save lives,” Jim Kennedy, the chairman of Cox Enterprises, said in the release. “We recognize the sacrifice they’re making, and this is one small way we can support them while they battle on the front lines.”
Cox Enterprises, which has its headquarters in Sandy Springs, owns cable and broadband provider Cox Communications, automotive properties including AutoTrader and Kelly Blue Book, and its media holdings include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Cox Foundation said the boxed meals will be provided to health workers at no cost. The food providers include chef Linton Hopkins, Fifth Group restaurants, Local Three restaurants, Bazati, TukTuk, Southern Proper Hospitality, Avalon Catering and Chez Montier Catering.
Emory Healthcare will coordinate weekly payments to the food service companies.
Earlier this month, the Cox Foundation committed up to $5 million to Emory Healthcare to purchase testing equipment for the coronavirus as it become available.
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Feed the Frontline
Our frontline health care providers are working around the clock, giving their all to treat COVID-19 patients — while also caring for non-COVID-19 patients with acute medical emergencies. Help Emory expand the Feed the Frontline program to even more Atlanta health care heroes by making your gift at www.emory.edu/feedthefrontline.
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