New Orleans has been hit
particularly hard by the coronavirus crisis, and perhaps one of the biggest
issues the community is facing right now is mounting food insecurity for
millions of people. Due to widespread business closures nationwide, and
specifically in the city of New Orleans, those working in the hospitality
industry no longer have a stable income. It will become increasingly difficult
for these workers to feed themselves and their families, exacerbating city-wide
food shortages as non-profits, food banks, and faith-based organizations
struggle to feed thousands of homeless and low-income New Orleanians.
Lucy's Community Kitchen, by the folks
at Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, strives to support the city in
two ways. First, the restaurant is committed to providing low-cost meals to
anyone in need. Every day, Lucy's will offer an array of to-go meals at a
discounted price of $5 or less. Meals will be given free of charge to those who
cannot afford it. Second, Lucy's plans to donate meals to those on the front lines
of this crisis: doctors and nurses, first responders, government employees,
community centers, non-profits, and faith-based organizations.
Since Lucy's created their
collaborative Community Kitchen project on March 19, they have provided around
200 community meals and donated an additional 500 meals to workers at Touro
Hospital ER, the Ochsner Operations Team, NOLA Tree Project/Second Harvest, New
Orleans City Hall, and New Orleans First Responders. They have created a GoFundMe page, and all of the money raised will go towards purchasing food, condiments, and to-go packaging
for community and donated meals. Donate here.
