1000’s of Free Meals Feed North Shore Medical Center Staff

While health care professionals work around the clock to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Shore community is taking care of them. The hospital has received an overwhelming volume of food donations to feed the local frontline and the meals and sweet treats keep coming.

“We’ve been amazed and inspired by the generosity of the community around us,” says Kate Bailey, a Development Officer at North Shore Medical Center who is managing food donation inquiries and deliveries. “In these times of uncertainty, we are reminded that we will get through this together.”

To date, nearly 4,300 meals have been donated. Food ranges from pizza and sandwiches to custom cookies and pints of ice cream. Individuals and restaurants alike are joining the effort to honor healthcare heroes in this way, which is also helping to support the local economy.

Just in the last three weeks, Marblehead residents Keri Edmonds McDonald, Autumn Moran and Maureen Kay, mobilized friends and neighbors within their town to order food from local restaurants, including Minos Roast Beef, Manhattan Sandwich Company, Café Vesuvius, Marblehead Community Store, and Soall Bistro – all of whom either donated their meals or have supplemented orders with extra meals and desserts. Boston-based nonprofit One Boston Day and Salem-based nonprofit Sailing Heals gave 350 meals on April 15 and have since made additional deliveries. Treadwell’s Ice Cream made a surprise visit with the company’s delicious homemade ice cream. Christopher’s Café in Lynn helped employees celebrate Easter with a special delivery. Julie Smail, MD., of North Shore Physicians Group, and her daughter Ashley Smail, on behalf of the nonprofit Feed the Front Lines, supplied 525 meals from Viga Italian Eatery. And, more!

“We have a good system going to ensure the health and safety of our donors, delivery workers and recipients,” says Bailey, who ensures that all hospital employees and departments benefit from food donations on a rotating basis. “We work with individual donors to schedule deliveries between shift changes at the hospital to ensure our entrances are open for staff members to move in and out quickly. We work with those making the deliveries to receive donations outside of the hospital at delivery vehicles. Food is then brought inside and the employees to receive the meals are invited down to re-fuel.”

North Shore Medical Center continues to accept food donations on behalf of its employees. All food must be individually wrapped but may be delivered in the same containers. Donors are encouraged to include vegetarian options and mark any food items that may contain nuts.

To learn more about how you can support North Shore Medical Center’s COVID-19 response and to make a food or monetary donation, visit: https://nsmcgiving.partners.org/covid19response.

About North Shore Medical Center

NSMC (North Shore Medical Center) is a multi-site health system headquartered in Salem, Mass., which includes NSMC Salem Hospital, NSMC Union Hospital in Lynn, MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center, and the physician network known as North Shore Physicians Group. NSMC and Massachusetts General Hospital together provide care at the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care and the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers. NSMC is a member of Partners HealthCare, which was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. For more information, visit our website at nsmc.partners.org

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