$16,000 Raised To 'Fuel The Fight' Against Coronavirus In NH

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A fundraising campaign is connecting front-line medical staff and restaurants, two groups who are arguably the hardest-hit by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and economic shutdown. The campaign, Fuel the Fight Seacoast NH, has raised more than $16,000 through a GoFundMe campaign.

The funds have been used to purchase and distribute nearly 700 meals from local restaurants in the Seacoast area that have been forced to scale down operations, close dining rooms and move to takeout-only ordering. The restaurants including Tailgate Tavern in Stratham, Laney and Lu in Exeter and Rogers Pizza in Dover.

"The response from our community and restaurants in surrounding towns has been amazing,” Michelle Johnson, a Fuel the Fight Seacoast team member, said in a news release announcing the campaign had successfully passed its fundraising benchmark of $10,000 earlier this month.

Johnson added, "We are humbled by the number of people who have donated and the number of restaurants that are jumping in to provide meals. The community really wants to support these workers."

The campaign is one of more than a dozen affiliate "Fuel The Fight" charities across the country. In New Hampshire, the campaign began with a trio of friends who recognized that they could support struggling restaurants "while fueling our heroes on the frontlines," said the news release.

Fuel The Fight Seacoast is documenting its delicious deliveries on Instagram and Facebook. Donations are still being collected on through GoFundMe.

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Yummm thanks @brgrbar #fuelthefight #fuelthefight2020
A post shared by Fuel The Fight - Seacoast, NH (@fuelthefightseacoast) on Apr 28, 2020 at 5:19pm PDT

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Thank you @stonefacebrewing for the beer donation and the lunches provided for @convenientmd !
A post shared by Fuel The Fight - Seacoast, NH (@fuelthefightseacoast) on Apr 17, 2020 at 4:20pm PDT