More than 800 free meals will be delivered to health-care workers in Airdrie on Jan. 20, as the Calgary Health Foundation's (CHF) Feed the Frontline campaign rolls into town.
According to Valerie Ball, director of marketing, communications and community engagement for CFH, the campaign is the foundation's way of showing gratitude to the many frontline health-care workers who are helping combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Calgary and nearby communities. The initiative is in partnership with Sunterra Market, which is supplying the pasta meals and accompanying salad.
"We heard from the community that they’re looking for ways to support our health-care workers in any way they can and to show their appreciation for the commitment they’re making to us during the pandemic and ensuring we stay healthy," Ball said.
The program started just before Christmas. Ball said CFH members will be in Airdrie Jan. 20, delivering the meals directly to health-care workers' households.
“It’s one less thing everyone has to worry about," she said. "When they come home, hopefully they can put their feet up and enjoy a meal with their family to decompress from the day. They won’t have to worry about going to the grocery store or what they’re going to cook.”
Feed the Frontline is not limited to Airdrie, but also includes sixteen municipalities in the Calgary area, stretching from High River in the south to Didsbury in the north. Other communities included Cochrane, Strathmore and Okotoks. In total, Ball said Feed the Frontline aims to deliver more than 22,000 meals to health-care workers.
To help fund the campaign, CHF is requesting donations of $30, which will support one household meal. According to a post on calgaryhealthtrust.ca, more than $95,000 has been raised, as of Jan. 18, with an end goal of raising $150,000. The donations are deductible and CHF will supply donors a tax receipt.
Those interested in paying for someone's meal can do so at giveameal.ca
“I want to thank the community for supporting front line workers," Ball said. "I know we’ve had so many notes of gratitude from people working in health-care about how much it means to them to know the community is supporting them.
“It’s definitely touched the lives of many health-care workers who are working very hard.”
For more information, visit calgaryhealthtrust.ca/our-causes/campaigns/feed-the-frontline/
