As the number of people infected with COVID-19 in Los Angeles and Orange counties rises, hospitals across the region are bracing for hard times — inadequate testing, a lack of personal protective equipment, a shortage of ventilators and beds. Then there's the human toll. Health care workers, exhausted from pulling long shifts, have little time to eat a good meal.
So you don't happen to have 50,000 N95 masks stuffed in your basement. You can help in other ways, perhaps by feeding our frontline workers.
Several restaurants, organizations and individuals throughout Southern California have launched crowdfunding campaigns to support meal deliveries to various hospitals. Some restaurants are also offering discounts or free delivery and take-out to hospital staff.
Here's a starter list. We'll add to it when we can.
NOTE: BE CAREFUL! Con artists don't stop conning because of coronavirus and most crowdfunding sites take a passive approach to rooting out scammers. While campaigns from established organizations and restaurants are likely legit, it's harder to verify campaigns organized by individuals. So if you don't recognize an organization or don't know the person launching a campaign, do some research before donating.
Big Sunday
Big Sunday, a Los Angeles-based non-profit known for its annual weekend-long community service event, has begun organizing free meal deliveries for staffers who work the nightshift in the emergency room of Cedars-Sinai, St. John's, LAC+USC, White Memorial, and MLK hospitals with more being added. The organization has now committed to 20 dinners. Donate here.
Dine11
Dine11 was started by Lola Glaudini, who began raising funds to help feed employees at Cedars-Sinai. The fundraiser grew into an official non-profit that's now working with local restaurants such as Little Dom's and Ostrich Farm as well as chefs like Josef Centeno of Baco Mercat and Bar Ama, to provide 100 meals, multiple times a week to the staff at Cedars. They are preparing to expand to other hospitals.
Downtown Manhattan Beach
The Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association is accepting donations to provide meals for the staff at Little Company of Mary and Torrance Memorial emergency room. They're partnering with Manhattan Beach restaurants, which will provide the food. Donate here.
Feed Hero Nurses
This campaign raises funds to feed nursing units treating COVID-19 patients at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. It plans to expand to other hospitals and has partnered with the charity Random Acts, so the donations are tax-deductible. Donate here.
Feed the Frontlines OC
Feed the Frontlines OC is partnering with local food trucks to deliver meals to hospitals in Orange County. A $15 donation provides one meal. Donations can be designated for a specific hospital or the campaign will identify the area with the greatest need. So far, the campaign has raised more than $4,000. Donate here.
Food for First Responders
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce started this campaign, which will be taking donations to purchase food from local restaurants and deliver it to urgent care centers, emergency rooms and first responders in the Pasadena area. Donations are tax-deductible. Donate here.
Help Feed the Frontline LA
Help Feed the Frontline LA started with a small group of local moms, including chef Brooke Williamson of The Tripel, Playa Provisions and Hudson House. It has now partnered with José Andrés's World Central Kitchen to provide free healthy meals to a number of hospitals in the Los Angeles area. Thanks to that partnership, donations are tax-deductible. Donate here.
LA Hospital Meals
LA Hospital Meals is raising funds to feed hospital workers by partnering with local restaurants. Restaurants and hospitals that are interested in participating in the program can sign up on their website. At the moment, the minimum pledge is $500, which provides meals for 25 health care workers. Donate here.
Off Their Plate
Off Their Plate, which started in San Francisco and Boston, has expanded operations to serve the health care workers of L.A. The organization is partnering with Malibu Farm to serve meals to the staff at Children's Hospital of L.A. and Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Donations are made via World Central Kitchen and are therefore tax-deductible. Donate here.
PFCC Partners
PFCC Partners is a healthcare improvement company based in Long Beach and they are raising funds to provide meals to Long Beach hospital workers by ordering from local restaurants. Donate here.
Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat started the Feed A Million+ pledge, donating meals to communities in need in multiple cities, including healthcare workers in Los Angeles. In partnership with celebrities such as Kevin Hart, the alternative meat company has donated meals to Keck Medical Center and Dignity Health - Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Bibi's Bakery & Cafe
Kosher bakery Bibi's is taking orders for cookie packages that will be delivered to ER workers at different hospitals in Los Angeles. A package of cookies costs $6 and for every two cookies purchased for local ERs, Bibi's will donate another package. To donate, email orders@bibisbakerycafe.com.
8928 W. Pico Blvd., Pico-Robertson. 310-246-1788
Blue Bowl
Blue Bowl Superfoods is crowdfunding to provide superfood bowls to the staff at Children's Hospital of Orange County, St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange and UCI Medical Center. Donate here.
417 S. Main St., Orange.
Chipotle
Starting on May 6, Chipotle will donate burritos to healthcare workers to match those purchased during their 4HEROES campaign in late April. Healthcare workers can request donations to their facility by visiting this page on May 6.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf On Wednesday, May 6, healthcare workers who flash a valid ID can get a free coffee or tea or $1 off any specialty drink at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
EATNakedLA
North Hollywood-based meal plan subscription company EATNakedLA is raising funds to send healthy meals to hospitals across Los Angeles and in surrounding counties. Donate here.
Employees Only LA
Employees Only LA was one of the first to start serving free "staff meals" to hospitality industry workers whose livelihood have been affected by the pandemic. Industry workers aren't the only ones who are eligible. Hospital workers can also get one of these free meals with their staff ID. Employees Only gives out 100 meals per day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Donate here.
7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 323-536-9045
Fatburger
L.A.-based burger chain Fatburger is sending out their food trucks to provide free meals to local healthcare workers. They made a stop at Dignity Health - California Medical Center last week and will continue their campaigns at other regional hospitals including USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood.
Goldbelly
Online gourmet marketplace Goldbelly started a city-based restaurant subscription service that benefits healthcare workers in multiple cities, including Los Angeles. With each subscription, Goldbelly will deliver food from partner restaurants in that city (which may include Langer's Deli, Philippe The Original, etc.) to the subscribers. 100% of the net proceeds will be used to send food to frontline workers in that city, from healthcare workers to shipping couriers. Goldbelly is also kicking it off by donating 1000 food packages to frontline workers. Check out the boxes here.
Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop
Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop has been delivering meals to hospital workers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Orange County and Hoag Hospital. Donate here.
Multiple locations including: 234 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. 949-200-3950
The Habit Burger Grill
California-based chain The Habit is sending its fleet of food trucks to provide more than 8,000 free meals to health care workers during the coming week. The schedule includes stops at nine hospitals around L.A. and OC, including Anaheim, La Mirada and San Dimas.
Heirloom LA
Matthew Poley and Tara Maxey's catering company, Heirloom LA, has worked with various nonprofits in the past using their own funds. This time, they're seeking donations to support their meal deliveries to the workers and families at the Violence Intervention Program at LAC+USC Medical Center. Donate here by selecting the button "I would like to dedicate this donation" and complete the "In honor of" field with "Heirloom Meal Project."
Ike's Sandwiches
In honor of National Nurses Week, Ike's Sandwiches is offering healthcare workers 50% off their in-store takeout orders on Wednesday, May 6. Just show your ID. Ike's will also be donating sandwiches to heathcare facilities in Arizona and California throughout the week.
KazuNori / HiHo Cheeseburger / UOVO
Sister restaurants KazuNori, HiHo Cheeseburger and UOVOstarted the Feed the Front Line initiative, providing complimentary meals for workers in local ICUs and ERs. They are scheduled to provide 1000 meals over the coming weeks. If you work at a local ER or ICU and would like to request a complimentary meal, you can do so here (KazuNori), here (HiHo Cheeseburger), or here (UOVO).
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is offering free donuts to health care workers every Monday until May 11. Just show your employee badge at the drive-through to receive a free box of a dozen doughnuts.
La Brea Bakery
La Brea Bakery is giving away free meals to healthcare workers during the month of April. The bakery will prepare 100 meals (consisting of a sandwich, a bag of chips and a cookie) every day from April 1 to April 30. Healthcare workers just need to show a badge to claim one of the meals, which will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis. More info here.
468 South La Brea Ave., Mid-city. 323-939-6813
The Park's Finest
Filipino BBQ spot The Park's Finest has started a project called Feeding the Frontliner, which delivers food to hospitals and fire stations. Donate here. You can also make a request for a donation at that link.
1267 W. Temple St., HiFi. 213-481-2800
People's Choice Beef Jerky
For the month of April, purchase a bag of beef jerky from People's Choice Beef Jerky via their website and they'll donate one to local hospitals. So far they have donated more than 3,000 bags of beef jerky through their Meat and Match program. Make your purchase here.
Pizza World
Kosher pizzeria Pizza World is also taking orders for pizzas that will go to L.A.'s emergency room workers. Donate a large pizza for $20 each. For every two pizzas purchased for ER workers, Pizza World will donate another. To donate, contact Pizza World at pizzaworldla@gmail.com or 323-653-2896.
365 S. Fairfax Ave., Mid-city. 323-653-2896.
Pizzana
Pizzana started giving free meals to L.A. frontline medical workers. As requests keep pouring in, they are seeking donations. Their meal deliveries go to Los Angeles area hospitals including UCLA and Cedars-Sinai. Donate here.
11712 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood. 310-481-7108
460 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-657-4662
Roaming Hunger
While not technically a restaurant, Roaming Hunger works with a number of food trucks around the country for events and catering. In L.A., they'll be sending one of their partner trucks to provide meals to vulnerable members of the community, first responders, health care workers and local non-profits. $6 will provide one hot meal (total donation for 100 meals triggers a food truck to be dispatched). Donate here.
Simms Restaurant Group
Simms Restaurant Group, which includes M.B. Post, Simmzy's and Fishing with Dynamite, among others, has started a project called Feed Our Heroes LA, inspired by founder Mike Simms' wife, who works as an ER doctor at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Donate here. Multiple locations including:
The Arthur J: 903 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. 310-878-9620
Tin Roof Bistro: 3500 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach. 310-939-0900
Slapfish
Seafood chain Slapfish is offering free meals to frontline workers including doctors, nurses, medical personnel, police, firefighters and EMTs. Show up in uniform or show your badge to claim your free meal. Valid at their Huntington Beach, Brea, Irvine and Laguna Beach locations. Multiple locations including:
19696 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach. 714-963-3900
3405 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea. 657-444-2291
4249 Campus Dr Suite B148, Irvine. 949-748-1174
211 Broadway St., Laguna Beach. 949-715-0460
Slice
Online pizza ordering platform Slice started the Pandemic vs. Pizza campaign, seeking donations to send pizza from independent pizzerias around the country, including Los Angeles, to a hospital, clinic, care center or shelters in need. Donate here. You can also use that link to suggest a hospital or care center that needs pizza relief.
Snickers
Readers with friends or family member who are essential workers can send them a free Snickers bar redeemable at Walmart by filling out this form. Plus, for each bar sent, Snickers will make a donation to Operation Gratitude.
Support + Feed
Started with help from musicians Billie Eilish and Maggie Baird, Support+Feed is a coalition of plant-based restaurants around Los Angeles that are taking donations to provide food to various groups in need, including six local hospitals. Donations can be made to the individual participating restaurants which include Crossroads, SunCafe and Sage. Donate here.
SweetBu Candy
Malibu-based SweetBu Candy is raising funds to deliver sweet treats to hospital workers. While it's not a full meal, it should make someone's day brighter. Donate here.
30745 Pacific Coast Hwy. #13, Malibu. 866-379-3382
TOPO by Kitchen Mouse
TOPO by Kitchen Mouse's crowdfunding campaign was started by a friend of the restaurant who's alss connected to Keck Medical Center at USC. They have raised $600 within their community to send meals to the hospital staff and have now taken their crowdfunding online. Donate here.
5906 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park. 323-474-6184
Dunkin'
Owners of local Dunkin' franchises have organized coffee and donut drop-offs to hospitals around Southern California. The next one is scheduled for Friday, March 27 at Tarzana Hospital and Mission Hills Kaiser.
The Melt
Grilled cheese specialist The Melt is offering a free meal, up to $15, for medical workers with proof of employment. The company is using sales from other takeout and delivery orders to fund the initiative.
735 S. Figueroa St. (inside Taste Food Hall), downtown L.A. 213-344-4903
665 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine. 949-954-6621
OC Baking Company
OC Baking Company will give a free loaf of bread to health care providers who come in to their store.
1960 N. Glassell Ave., Orange. 714-998-2253
Pie Bar
The Pie Bar in Long Beach is taking orders for sweet and savory pies to be delivered to organizations in need in the Long Beach Community, including hospitals. Orders/donations are $50 minimum for two pies, and as a thank you for the donor's generosity, Pie Bar will give you a $20 gift card to use in the future. Donate here.
450 Pine Ave., Long Beach. 562-444-8743
Pressed Juicery
Pressed Juicery has begun sending free cold-pressed juices and shots to CHOC Children's Hospital, UCLA Health and other hospitals. To nominate a hospital to receive free juices, email community@pressedjuicery.com.
Rocco's Neighborhood Pizza
Rocco's Neighborhood Pizza started delivering free pizza to Cedars-Sinai last week. The owners aren't currently fundraising but say they plan to keep up the free delivery once a week and plan to include other hospitals.
6335 Wilshire Blvd., mid-city. 323-655-0058
SocialEats
Santa Monica food hall SocialEats has a few deals for hospital workers. Azulé Taqueria provides a free taco bowl to customers with a hospital ID while Pop's Burgers and Shakes offers a free single burger and fries (choice of Creekstone Farms beef or Impossible Burger). Additionally, there is a 50% off delivery order to hospitals within Santa Monica when ordered through their website with promo code INTHISTOGETHER ($10 minimum order).
1315 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica. 424-317-5429
Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen has started delivering free salads and bowls to hospitals in the cities they serve, including Los Angeles. They're expanding the program. Hospitals interested in free delivery can sign up here.
Starbucks
Starbucks is giving out free drip coffee to frontline workers including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital staff and researchers through the end of May.
Dave's Chillin' and Grillin'
This Highland Park sandwich spot is offering health care workers a $5 take-out meals consisting of a sandwich, chips and water.
5715 N. Figueroa St. #102, Highland Park. 323-490-0988
Farmhouse at Roger's Garden
Farmhouse at Roger's Garden is offering a 25% discount to hospital workers through April.
2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona Del Mar. 949-640-1415
Insomnia Cookies
Late-night cookie delivery company Insomnia Cookies is taking 25% off orders of at least $10 with the code WELOVEU. They're also donating $1 to the American Red Cross for every 12 cookies sold.
Maddalena Restaurant at San Antonio Winery
Maddalena Restaurant is offering 25% off takeout orders for all health care professionals, grocery store employees and delivery drivers. Present your ID or credentials or show up wearing your uniform when picking up your order to get the discount.
737 Lamar St., downtown L.A. 323-223-1401
Paley
Power-lunch destination Paley is offering health care workers a 20% discount on all takeout orders. Orders must be called in and proof of employment is required for the discount.
6115 Sunset Blvd., Suite 100, Hollywood. 323-544-9430
The Recess Room
Gastropub The Recess Room is offering 50% off to all restaurant industry and health care workers.
18380 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley. 714-377-0398
Skylight Gardens
Italian restaurant Skylight Gardens is offering a 25% discount for health care workers. Show staff ID when ordering.
1139 Glendon Ave., Westwood. 310-824-1818
Gasolina Cafe
At Gasolina Cafe, customers can opt to buy a meal for $12 for an emergency room worker at hospitals across the San Fernando Valley. They are currently working to deliver meals to Kaiser Woodland Hills and West Hills Hospital. Meals for the health care workers can be ordered here.
21150 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills. 818-914-4033
Hopdoddy
Hopdoddy at The Point is doing a "buy a burger, give a burger" campaign. Order a burger online with promo code "Buy1Give1" and they'll coordinate hands-free burger drop-offs with local hospitals. Valid only at The Point in El Segundo location.
830 South Pacific Coast Hwy. Blvd., Suite 116, El Segundo. 310-414-2337
Lazy Dog
Lazy Dog is offering two different family meals for takeout, and for each one ordered, the restaurant will donate a meal to an organization in the community. The restaurant has dropped off meals to St. Joseph's Hospital of Orange. Purchase a family meal here. Nominate an organization that may need meal donations by emailing community@lazydogrestaurants.com.
Multiple locations including:
1623 West Katella Ave., Orange. 714-769-7020
3525 West Carson St., Torrance. 310-921-6080
(LAist has NOT vetted these campaigns.)
Senkosal Uy and his family started crowdfunding to order food from local restaurants to send to ER and ICU workers around Los Angeles and Orange County. They have sent meals to West Anaheim ER. Donate here.
Started by the seventh-grade son of a critical care physician, this campaign raises funds to send meals to health care workers who have fallen ill and are under quarantine. Donate here.
Organized by Susan Lee, this campaign sends a healthy meal to ER workers from a local restaurant. Donate here
The Transfer Student Community at USC is fundraising to send meals to Emergency Room staff at L.A. County hospitals. As a bonus, the students are also doing one pushup for every dollar donated. Way to stay healthy. Donate here.
Art consultant Beth Pickens has been crowdfunding using her Venmo and ordering meals from Highland Park's HomeState to be delivered to hospital and grocery store workers as well as homeless people. Donate via Venmo at @bethpickens1979.
Jennifer Smith Wilson of Orange County catering company Creme de la Creme is raising funds to deliver family meals as well as groceries to local hospitals. The current plan is to deliver a "family meal for four" and groceries for every $100 and to deliver 50 family meals once $5000 is raised, although the activation threshold may be lowered to 25 family meals. Donate here.
Lynda Gorov has started a fund to feed ER workers around the city. She collects money, orders food from local restaurants and sends it to hospitals. So far, they campaign has sent food to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, UCLA Medical Center and LAC+USC Medical Center. Donate here.
