Restaurants Feed COVID Doctors, Nurses to Survive
2021-02-21
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1At the end of December, coronavirus case numbers and hospitalizations were increasing in Portland, Oregon.
2Doctors and nurses caring for the most seriously ill at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) were growing extremely tired just when they were needed the most.
3Then, some of the city's most popular restaurants began delivering meals to the hospital.
4For workers who only took off their protective face coverings once to eat during a 12-hour work day, the meals were more than just food.
5"It's almost like having a weight lifted. It's like getting a surprise dozen roses or something," nurse Alice Clark said. "We're so grateful."
6The meals also served another purpose: They kept struggling restaurants in business.
7Eateries were closing after a months-long indoor dining ban.
8The hospital sometimes orders 150 or 160 meals at a time.
9So their business was a huge help to restaurants.
10Kiauna Floyd is the owner of Amalfi's, a Portland restaurant that has been serving Italian food for 62 years.
11She said, "It's kept the doors open and a small workforce employed."
12Workers at the restaurant prepared around 500 meals for OHSU.
13That permitted Floyd to keep a number of her people working after dismissing 75 percent of her employees.
14The restaurant is currently struggling to stay in business with limited outdoor seating, orders for carry out and pre-prepared meals-to-go.
15Amalfi's meals brought to the hospital proved to be among the most popular with the health workers at OHSU.
16Floyd said, "We want to do something as comforting as possible so when they are on their break and do get that lunch, it warms their soul."
17For now, though, meal deliveries to OHSU have stopped because the program paying for them ended on January 19.
18Leaders are hoping to find more money to get meals running again soon.
19The three-week effort paid local eateries a total of $39,000.
20A similar effort was paid for by private donations through the nonprofit organization Frontline Foods PDX.
21The group connected restaurants with Portland-area hospitals and clinics early in the pandemic.
22But then donations began to decrease, and the effort slowed and then stopped.
23That effort provided about 13,800 meals over three months to six health services, including a veteran's hospital and a homeless clinic.
24It was important support for 14 restaurants.
25Shannon Tivona organized meal orders and delivery for OHSU and volunteered for Frontline Foods in its earlier work.
26"To be able to call and say, 'Hey, I have $2,000 of business for you' is just the most incredible feeling," she said.
27"The times where we're not doing anything are really tough. The restaurant owners call me and say, 'Do you have anything yet? Do you have anything?' And it's heartbreaking to have to say, 'No, I don't.'"
28But many of the same restaurants were called upon to deliver 2,600 meals to OHSU health workers.
29For nurse Henry Valdez, the meals were a necessary break.
30"I've never been more tired, mentally, physically and emotionally," he said.
31"When these meals started, I was just in awe. One or two times it brought a tear to my eye, the generosity of people, because it has not been an easy year - and the food provided comfort."
32I'm Jonathan Evans.
1At the end of December, coronavirus case numbers and hospitalizations were increasing in Portland, Oregon. 2Doctors and nurses caring for the most seriously ill at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) were growing extremely tired just when they were needed the most. Then, some of the city's most popular restaurants began delivering meals to the hospital. 3For workers who only took off their protective face coverings once to eat during a 12-hour work day, the meals were more than just food. "It's almost like having a weight lifted. It's like getting a surprise dozen roses or something," nurse Alice Clark said. "We're so grateful." 4The meals also served another purpose: They kept struggling restaurants in business. Eateries were closing after a months-long indoor dining ban. The hospital sometimes orders 150 or 160 meals at a time. So their business was a huge help to restaurants. 5Kiauna Floyd is the owner of Amalfi's, a Portland restaurant that has been serving Italian food for 62 years. She said, "It's kept the doors open and a small workforce employed." 6Workers at the restaurant prepared around 500 meals for OHSU. That permitted Floyd to keep a number of her people working after dismissing 75 percent of her employees. The restaurant is currently struggling to stay in business with limited outdoor seating, orders for carry out and pre-prepared meals-to-go. 7Amalfi's meals brought to the hospital proved to be among the most popular with the health workers at OHSU. 8Floyd said, "We want to do something as comforting as possible so when they are on their break and do get that lunch, it warms their soul." 9For now, though, meal deliveries to OHSU have stopped because the program paying for them ended on January 19. Leaders are hoping to find more money to get meals running again soon. The three-week effort paid local eateries a total of $39,000. 10A similar effort was paid for by private donations through the nonprofit organization Frontline Foods PDX. The group connected restaurants with Portland-area hospitals and clinics early in the pandemic. But then donations began to decrease, and the effort slowed and then stopped. 11That effort provided about 13,800 meals over three months to six health services, including a veteran's hospital and a homeless clinic. It was important support for 14 restaurants. 12Shannon Tivona organized meal orders and delivery for OHSU and volunteered for Frontline Foods in its earlier work. "To be able to call and say, 'Hey, I have $2,000 of business for you' is just the most incredible feeling," she said. 13"The times where we're not doing anything are really tough. The restaurant owners call me and say, 'Do you have anything yet? Do you have anything?' And it's heartbreaking to have to say, 'No, I don't.'" 14But many of the same restaurants were called upon to deliver 2,600 meals to OHSU health workers. For nurse Henry Valdez, the meals were a necessary break. 15"I've never been more tired, mentally, physically and emotionally," he said. "When these meals started, I was just in awe. One or two times it brought a tear to my eye, the generosity of people, because it has not been an easy year - and the food provided comfort." 16I'm Jonathan Evans. 17Gillian Flaccus reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 18_______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20dozen -n. a group of twelve people or things 21grateful -adj. feeling or showing thanks 22comforting -adj. describing something that makes people feel less upset, worried or scared 23soul -n. the spiritual part of a person 24delivery -n. the act of taking something to a person or place 25clinic -n. a place where people can get medical help that is not as large as a hospital 26generosity -n. the quality of being kind, understanding and not selfish