Delaney House to donate meals to essential workers, people in need

April 22, 2020 | Danielle Eaton
DanielleE@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE - A popular restaurant in Holyoke is giving the community an opportunity to give back to first responders and those in need by purchasing meals to donate.

Peter Rosskothen, who owns Delaney House and Log Cabin, said they didn’t just want to provide meals for the heroes, but for those in need as well. He explained to Reminder Publishing that they didn’t want to simply make expensive meals.

“We don’t want to be in the business of making expensive meals when people don’t have money to do it,” he said. Ross said they initially began making meals to donate, and then the movement grew due to people’s desire to help.

“We started doing that and getting it to the hospitals and people working,” he said. “People wanted to send them to the ER. It’s kind of been growing.”

The program, Feed A Local Hero/Someone in Need, allows people to donate towards either of their two meal options. The first option is $5 and donates a single individual entree, ready to heat and serve. Rosskothen said this option will “have a different menu item every day.” He said two of the entree options that had been offered included chicken caprese and a gorgonzola sirloin steak with mashed potatoes.

The other option includes a $10 donation to pay for a full boxed lunch. The boxed lunch option consists of a sandwich, fruit, dessert and a beverage. The boxed lunch option, he said, was because “some want something cold” so they can take their time eating it.

He said they had been doing “mostly $5 meals.” When the meals are distributed to hospitals, he said, it is done during the time when the workers would be taking a break. The idea behind the hot entree, Rosskothen said, was so the crew “can quickly eat something warm.”

In addition to providing meals for essential workers such as hospital employees, Rosskothen said they are also donating meals to “people in need” such as the Amherst Survival Center, and were “providing regular meals for the Loreto House in Holyoke.”

He said there have been a significant number of people wanting to donate, whether it is just one meal or a whole unit's worth of meals.

“It’s been a mind boggling amount, I know of two guys, both have done $1,500,” he explained. “A lot of people [are] doing $10 to $15. People seem to want to do something, it’s a really nice thing.”

Rosskothen said people are welcome to donate “anything they’re comfortable with.” After the donations are received he said they are “putting it together and identifying different causes.” He called the process “very unsophisticated” and “straight forward.”

Additionally, he said that they were keeping an ongoing list of those who donate and don’t mind being recognized to give to the places where meals are delivered. He added that he knew some people didn’t want to be recognized, and wouldn’t include their names on the list.

They are also accepting suggestions from the public as to where the donated meals should go. To suggest a company and/or donate a meal can do so by visiting https://www.delaneyhouse.com/feedalocalhero.

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