How Restaurants Are Giving Back to the Community During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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The most important thing we have learned during Coronavirus is how to come together in times of crisis. Everyone plays a part in fighting this thing, big or small. Whether your role is being a frontline healthcare worker, or simply staying home to keep yourself and others safe, everyone’s due diligence is significantly needed at this time. 

Local restaurant owners understand that coming together as a community is needed now more than ever. To show their support, they are finding unique ways to give back to those in need and provide meals for folks in our area. 

To learn more on what restaurants in the North Shore are doing to support their community during this time, we called the many restaurants using our services and asked for their input. Below are some of the different ways we learned on how they are giving back and what all residents and other businesses can do to help in this crisis.

Providing meals to first responders and local essential business

Restaurants are offering promotions to give back to first responders in the area during this time. For example, Nick Drivas, owner of Grill House and Backyard Grill, runs a family special that gives a portion of sale to first responders. 

Costa Louvros, owner of Eggspresso in Bannockburn, and Larry Goodman, owner of Marcello’s in Northbrook, also understand the importance of giving back to our frontline workers. Both restaurants donate to local police and fire departments so those workers can stay working during the pandemic. 

The staff at Stacked and Folded (located in Evanston and Winnetka) also does their part to provide meals for our first responders. “We are honored to help our first responders and health care workers in any way we can,” stated Josh Keating owner of Stacked and Folded.

Restaurants are also finding businesses that are considered essential and are giving to them. Butterfield’s restaurant in Northbrook, for example, provides plates of French toast to the workers at the local post office. 

Offering promotions that give to local food banks

With business and school closures, job layoffs, and many other factors, folks are in need now more than ever. During this pandemic, millions of Americans are looking for support from food banks. 

Ted Vlahakis, owner of Greek Feast, recognizes this fact. That’s why he gives back 50 percent of all beer and wine orders to the Northfield Township Food Pantry. No one should go hungry during this pandemic, and this is a great way to ensure those in need are fed. 

Marcello’s has also donated juices and food items to Northfield Township Food Pantry. “It’s important to connect with our community during this time and we could tell they were very appreciative of our help,” said Marcello’s owner Larry Goodman.

How you can help:  

Greek Feast and Marcello’s are supporting those who need it most. You can help by purchasing beer and wine from Greek Feast with your Greek dinner, and ordering some pizza online from Marcello’s. Visit the Greek Feast and Marcello’s websites, linked at the bottom, to order online today. 

Additionally, food pantries in your neighborhood are in need of cereals, beverages, personal hygiene items and household cleaning supplies. None of this should be wasted right now. Visit the websites below to see how you can help today. 

• Northfield Township Food Pantry
• Northern Illinois Food Bank
• Greater Chicago Food Depository
• North Shore SDA Church
• Feeding America

Donating food to local hospitals

Our healthcare workers are on the forefront in the race to put an end to COVID-19. While many of us get to stay home and be with family, hospital workers are on the floors of the war against this virus. 

As they are working long and difficult shifts, it’s important we show our support and take care of them. Judy’s Pizza, Tamales, Stacked and Folded and Butterfield’s are all donating to and offering special promotions for their local hospitals in the North Shore. 

One Highland Park resident encourages her friends and family to use  GiveinKind.com  to help support both restaurants and local first hospitals. “We sent meals for Highland Park Hospital last night from our favorite restaurant, Tamales,” she said. “[Give in Kind] makes it very east to support the restaurants we love and the first responders.” 

You can also help by donating protective equipment to a hospital near you. Unfortunately, those fighting this virus have to face shortages in masks and other key equipment. You can help by donating protective masks and gloves to hospitals in your area. Visit NorthShore.org to learn more on donating.                                  

Providing food for families with school-aged children

Our nation’s most vulnerable need us right now. Unfortunately, the closure of school means kids are losing meals they depend on. With the help of Judy’s Pizza donating meals to local school children, and initiatives through local volunteer programs, we can help put an end to child hunger in our community. 

Through the Hunger Free Northbrook Student Program, volunteers distribute food bags to Northbrook families with school-age children in need of more meals. In this time especially, the need is great. Visit the Hunger Free Northbrook Student Food Pack Program  for more details. 

How you can help

You can help by becoming a volunteer through local initiatives that provide meals for school children, such as the Hunger Free Northbrook program. Visit the link above to sign up to be a volunteer. Additionally, support all restaurants who provide meals for local schools and support their community. North Shore Loyalty is proud to be a sponsor of Hunger Free Northbrook. To see what all the restaurants mentioned in this update are doing, visit their website  and order online. 

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Let’s fight COVID-19 together

Everyone plays a part in fighting this virus, big or small. What’s important to keep in mind is that the more we fight together, the stronger our community becomes in the war against Coronavirus.

As a member of our community, you can help by supporting local restaurants, donating to their causes and volunteering. Below are their websites and Facebook pages with special promotions. Let’s all come together and give our support. 

• Backyard Grill  (Highland Park, IL),  Facebook
• Butterfield's (Northbrook, IL),  Facebook
• Dear Franks  (Deerfield, IL; Niles, IL),  Facebook
• Eggspresso (Bannockburn, IL),  Facebook
• Greek Feast (Northbrook, IL), Facebook
• Grill House  (Northbrook, IL),  Facebook
• Judy’s Pizza  (Highland Park, IL),  Facebook 
• Marcello’s  (Northbrook, IL),  Facebook
• Stacked & Folded  (Winnetka IL, Evanston, IL)  Facebook
• Tamales  (Highland Park, IL),  Facebook