Westchester Restaurants Doing Good: 7 Ways To Help Others In The Covid Crisis

Actor John Krasinkski recently started “Some Good News” so we all get to have our days brightened a bit. In that vein, a number of restauranteurs, food business owners, and individuals are doing their part to brighten the day, and give sustenance, to workers on the frontlines. 

Shake for the Shakers

In collaboration with Westchester institution King Kone, a group of three South Salem families banded together to bring milkshakes to front line workers, including employees at local supermarkets. One of those families are respectively former New York City firefighter and current nurse, Dan and Colleen Parker. Colleen says, “We knew there were many efforts to generously donate food so we decided to switch it up a little.”  Dan speaks for a number of people who are donating and volunteering when he says, “It was hard sitting at home knowing that we were fortunate enough to do something for those people working at this time.” Deb Hopkins, who owns King Kone with her husband Brian, says, “Milkshakes are something that people can grab and go.” And she rhetorically asks, “Who doesn’t smile when they’re having ice cream?” (The other South Salem families involved in the effort are the O’Reillys and the Rices.) Go to: 100 Shakes a Day on gofundme.com or you can Venmo @shakesfortheshakers. 

We Will Provide

A group of Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Harrison and Rye businesspeople joined together with area food businesses to donate to hospitals. Food choices include a meal from a restaurant, chocolates from Chocolations, or coffee and pastries from Espresso Cafeto.  Odelya Vivolo, who owns Trattoria Vivolo with her husband (and the chef) Dean, says efforts such as these demonstrate, “It really does take a village to provide for these first responders.” Odelya also notes that providing meals allows her husband and others to keep cooking. “It’s a wonderful feeling to hear from recipients how much this means to them.” As an added bonus children (and their parents) are submitting thank you notes and drawings, which are photocopied and sent out with the deliveries. Go to: wewillprovide.com

Front Line Warriors

Jonathan Baratz, owner with his wife Lisa of Bear Mountain Coffee Roasters, Mahopac, has come out with a Front Line Warrior coffee blend. Customers can place a donation order for that coffee, and Baratz delivers five pound bags to such places as hospitals, firehouses, and police stations. “We want to do something that can keep the front line warriors moving and coffee is a great fuel for that.” The blend is tagged with a sticker that indicates the importance of the Front Line Warriors. Tarrytown’s Coffee Labs Roasters has been donating Boxes of Joe through donations as well. Go to: @bmcrcafe on Instagram for Front Line Warriors and Venmo @mike-Love-97312 for Coffee Labs. 

Food for the Front Lines – Westchester Chapter

Monica Lynn, owner of 5 Squares, a Stamford-based meal delivery company, started this effort, joining forces with Nicole Straight, the woman behind Food for the Front Lines CT. On the CT end, over $100,000 has been raised to support front line health care workers. In doing so, a number of restaurant staffs are able to be employed as they prepare these meals. In Westchester, such restaurants as Trattoria 632 in Purchase, The Taco Project in Bronxville, and The Candlelight Inn in White Plains have contributed to the hospital deliveries. The Westchester fund received a grant from GoFundMe, and the children of Westchester actor Chazz Palminteri and his wife Gianna Ranaudo are fundraising for the effort. Go to: Food for the Front Lines – Westchester Chapter on gofundme.com 

In Cod We Trust

Bread & Brine in Hastings, which in addition to its restaurant meals is now offering a seafood market on Saturdays, recently offered an option on its order form (as have such restaurants such as O Mandarin, Hartsdale) where customers can donate towards feeding first responders and essential workers. Go to: @breadandbrinehoh or @omandarin on Instagram.

105 Restaurant Group Go Fund Me

The group, with restaurants in Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Croton-on-Hudson, and Pleasantville, has started a GofFundMe campaign to provide meals to 1st Responder Groups in areas surrounding the restaurants. Additionally, they’ll donate meals to assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Go to: 105 Restaurant Group on gofundme.com

Gullotta House

The organization whose motto is “Helping Westchester County Residents Facing Hardship,” is working with numerous restaurant partners, and such contributors as Tarry Tavern and Terra Rustica, to provide free community meals. Go to: gullottahouse.org