Cento CBD's 'Adopt a Health Worker' initiative is expected to send out its 1000th meal to hospital staff in Wollongong and Shellharbour this weekend.
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Earlier this week Centro CBD made its 900th meal for people wanting to pay-it-forward and say thank you to a health worker by buying them lunch or dinner and having it delivered to their hospital.
Robert Specogna and Michael Arbelias said the response has been beyond their expectations and has helped keep their staff in work.
Mr Specogna said the overwhelming generosity of Illawarra residents said a lot about the region as a caring community.
"We never really knew how far this would go but the generosity of people in the Illawarra has been amazing," he said.
"The response has meant other staff in the hospitals, including cleaners, receptionists and physios, have also received meals".
Mr Specogna said the meal donations ranges from individuals buying a meal for a health worker to businesses such as FinoComp paying for 120 meals for staff working in Wollongong and Shellharbour public hospitals on Easter Sunday.
"Some of the meals have even been sponsored by people who are actually health workers themselves," he said.
"Many of the meals specifically for cleaners and receptionists have come from other health workers who didn't want them to be left out because the great work being done in our hospitals during COVID-19 is a team effort".
Adopt a Health Workers has been a great experience for Mr Arbelias and the team in the kitchen at Centro CBD.
"It is a great way to be involved in the community," Mr Specogna said.
"The initiative helps everybody. We have always been a dine-in restaurant and this initiative is helping us as well. Those sponsoring meals for health workers are also helping provide work for our staff and those who supply us food".
Wait staff are the ones driving the meals to the hospitals.
Centro is also providing a takeaway and delivery service during COVID-19 restrictions.
Many of its traditional diners, mostly from the Wollongong and Figtree area, have been ordering their favourite meals for delivery at least once a week.
"They are people we have known for many years," Mr Specogna said.
And he expects more people will want takeaways and deliveries after the coronavirus crisis ends.
Mr Specogna predicts many things will remain for the restaurant industry as a result of people trying new things and enjoying what they have never tried before.
He said deliveries and takeaways being more popular in the future will provide restaurants with an additional revenue stream moving forward.
And that was a good thing in an industry that was already struggling a little before COVID-19.
Mr Specogna said it was also great to see posts on social media of health workers being randomly bought a coffee while they are out and about in the community.
He said it was great being involved in the early stages of that community goodwill.
"A cup of coffee here and there is definitely not going to break the bank for anybody but it makes the recipient feel very appreciated," he said.
Read more:
- How software developer FinoComp is ensuring dozens of busy hospital workers don't miss out on an Easter Sunday meal during COVID-19 pandemic
- Wollongong eatery asks residents to 'adopt a health worker' and shout them a meal
- When COVID-19 forced one family business to close they made 5000 meals for the homeless and those in need
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