Meal Program To Aid Queens Medical Workers In Coronavirus Fight

KEW GARDENS, QUEENS — Queens community leaders are teaming up to provide thousands of meals to medical workers across the borough who are on the frontlines of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting Sunday, the "Fuel the Frontlines" initiative will bring meals prepared by small local businesses to each of Queens' nine acute-care hospitals, thanks to a partnership between the Office of the Queens Borough President, the Queens Economic Development Corporation and the Queens Night Market.

The program, which is being fully funded by Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, aims to simultaneously support overburdened health care workers and local restaurants struggling to survive while they are limited to serving only takeout and delivery.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has produced two-front battles waged by heroic front-line workers and business owners," Lee said. "'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."

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The meals will be prepared by small businesses enrolled in the Queens Economic Development Corporation's commercial kitchen incubator in Long Island City or vendors who participate in the annual Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which was originally scheduled to reopen in April.

"We hope this project can provide some small businesses with a modest but important stream of revenue during these challenging economic times," Queens Night Market Founder John Wang said.

Workers with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will help transport 250 meals to each hospital, packed in individual containers.

Participating eateries include:

• Arepalicious of Ozone Park: www.arepalicious.com, @arepaliciousny
• Caribbean Street Eats: @caribbeanstreeteats
• Cooking with Corey: www.cookingwithcorey.com, @cookingwithcorey
• Dotty’s Norwegian Kitchen: www.pinkys.space, @pinkysspace
• KINI of Long Island City: www.eatkini.com, @kini_lic
• La’Maoli: @lamaoli_
• Magnolia Café: @magnoliacafepf
• The Malaysian Project: www.themalaysianproject.com, @themalaysianproject
• Quiaufa’s Kitchen: @chefsherriscatering
• Roastnco of Forest Hills: www.roastnco.com, @roastnco
• Treat Yourself Jerk Chicken: www.tyjerk.com
• Two Tablespoons: www.twotbsp.com, @twotbsp

Anyone who is interested in sponsoring the “Fuel the Frontlines” initiative should call 718-286-3000 or email info@queensbp.org, with the subject line “Fuel the Frontlines.”

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