Chesapeake Point Residents Provide Meals To Health Care Workers

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — After watching the dedication of employees at the nearby Tarpon Bayou Center nursing home during the coronavirus pandemic, residents of Chesapeake Point mobile home park decided to show their appreciation.

During the pandemic, resident Laura Salbury said the 55-plus senior community has organized food drives and practiced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but felt the need to do more to help people beyond their mobile home park.

So, on Wednesday, May 21, the residents provided a meal from Jimmy's Restaurant to all three shifts of employees at the Tarpon Bayou Center on Chesapeake Drive and to the Sunset Harbor Assisted Living Center employees around the corner on Doris Court.

"We thank these employees for risking their health and their families' health as they continue their commitment for caring for their patients," said Salsbury. "We see the dedicated staff as we walk, bike or drive past these facilities and miss seeing some of their patients who used to sit out front or walk or ride in wheelchairs on our street."

Chesapeake Point residents collected donations for the food, and Jimmy's Restaurant on Gulf Road in Tarpon Springs prepared 76 sandwiches with potato salad, cole slaw and fruit. Jimmy's placed the food in individual takeout containers for the residents to safely deliver.

Salsbury said the residents actually collected more money than the food ending up costing so they donated the surplus to the Shepherd Center, which provides groceries each week to homebound seniors, veterans and the disabled and prepares meals seven days a week for homeless and displaced residents.

"Tarpon Springs is a second home to many Chesapeake Pointers, but we all have a passionate love for our little mobile home community of 60 homes in addition to the glorious beauty and people of Tarpon Springs," said Salsbury. "Many of us frequent Jimmy's and reached out to him first because he's our neighbor with delicious food and a great heart."