This post contains answers to Frequently Asked Questions for the Shout A Meal fundraiser arranged by me, Nagi from Recipetin Eats, to provide meals to Sydney frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and put some much needed revenue into our hospitality industry.
And here’s the backstory for how #ShoutAMeal evolved. Thank you for reading! ❤️ – Nagi x
SHOUT a Meal for Sydney Frontliners
THE MISSION: To provide delicious, nourishing food to our frontline healthcare workers in Sydney, and support local businesses struggling to stay afloat.
GOAL: To raise $210,000 to provide 500 meals per day for 6 weeks to frontline healthcare workers, and provide some much needed revenue into the hospitality industry.
$10 meals x 500 healthcare workers x 7 days x 6 weeks = $210,000
FAQ
Where does my money go?
100% of the money raised goes directly to purchasing meals and nourishing snacks for COVID-19 frontline workers in Sydney hospitals from local businesses, including restaurants, cafes, catering companies and bakeries.
Overheads and costs associated with running this project, including people resources, will be borne by me.
How do you know the food is safe?
All businesses providing the meals or any other food will be required to meet mandatory Australian food safety standards (HACCP and Food Safety Supervisors) as well the higher sanitisation standards plus social distancing requirements required in today’s COVID-19 environment.
In addition, the acceptance of food is being vetted by appropriate authorities at each hospital, including an approval process for each food provider.
Food will be prepared fresh on the day of delivery, and will be suitable for reheating and/or freezing (reheating will provide extra food safety precaution).
Disclaimer: While both myself and my suppliers will undertake to do everything we can to ensure food safety, we cannot provide any guarantees. That would be impossible even in the best of times.
Who is preparing the meals?
Shout A Meal food will be prepared by local businesses that are pre-approved by hospitals.
As at Day 2, there are two approved meal/food sources, both of which I know personally (but have no financial or vested interest in):
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Baptiste and Wilson – for meals, a Sydney catering company run by a chef and cook (both of whom are trained Food Safety Supervisors); and
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Bowan Island Bakery – a well known HACCP Australian food safety certified bakery that sells baked goods across Sydney through 3 locations and city-wide Harris Farms stores. Baked goods are cooked in a central bakery located in Chatswood.
Update Tuesday 14 April 2020: We’ve had a wonderful response from local restaurants interested in participating! We were unable to progress restaurant approvals by hospitals over the Easter long weekend, but we’re pushing new restaurants through today and will be making some exciting new announcements soon!
This list will be expanded as demand and funding allows, with a rigorous screening process (by both myself and each hospital in accordance with their respective policies before they accept food).
Restaurants and other meal suppliers, please complete this form to participate
How much do the meals cost?
The meals will be purchased at $10 or less per head, sold at or below cost.
Snacks will be procured at the best possible price, no higher than wholesale. Freshly baked muffins trumps chocolate bars and chips, but I will resort to the latter where hospital policy only permits manufactured foods.
What type of meals are being provided?
Here is a sample – this weeks’ Baptiste and Wilson menu:
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MONDAY: Pork Tenderloin with Fennel, Carrot and Mustard Jus
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TUESDAY: Chicken Adobo, Smoky Potato, Cauliflower and Kale
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WEDNESDAY: Middle Eastern Lamb Shanks with Turmeric Rice
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THURSDAY: Pork Shoulder Roast, Green Beans and Sweet Potato Wedges
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FRIDAY: Potato and Eggplant Rogan Josh with Rice
Not bad, hmm? I feel like our healthcare workers deserve amazing food!
(PS If you’re wondering how on earth they can provide such amazing meals at such a low price, the answer is that they are providing it at ingredients cost only. Their time, delivery, kitchen space cost etc – everything else is being donated for free. They are amazing.)
Why bother with snacks?
Because hospital policies around food acceptance is becoming tighter. Many are no longer accepting homemade goods from caring citizens, and some hospitals have a strict no food unless wrapped in heat seal packaging policy (eg muesli bars, chips), thus making it impossible to provide meals to healthcare workers, whether homemade or made by restaurants.
Which hospitals and healthcare workers are getting the meals?
The free meals and snacks will be on offer to all Sydney hospitals with COVID clinics and wards, on an as-available basis and within each hospitals’ constraints and policies.
This includes: Bankstown-Lidcombe, Campbelltown, Canterbury, Concord, Fairfield, Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai, Liverpool, Mona Vale, Nepean Public, Northern Beaches, Prince of Wales, Royal North Shore Public, RPA Camperdown, Ryde, St George Public, St Vincents Public, Sydney, Sydney Children’s Randwick, Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sutherland, Westmead.
Hospitals – please complete this form to request free meals
Where possible, contact points at each hospital will distribute the meals to those that most need it – for example, those who live alone or with other healthcare workers, and those who have had to move out to keep their families safe.
What about other states?
It would be a dream come true to be able to expand into other states. But right now, I’m focussing my efforts on getting this set up in my hometown, Sydney, as I don’t have the capacity to do more. I need some sleep – not much, just 5 hours!
They need medical equipment more than food.
I know. But I have no contacts or experience in the field of medical equipment. I wish I did.
So I’m sticking with what I know, and where I have the most contacts and reach, and providing meals to healthcare workers who need it the most. Those who don’t go home to a warm homemade meal at night, those who have moved out of home for fear of infecting their loved ones.
*** Got more questions? Leave it below and I’ll add them to this list. ***
Shout a Meal for a Sydney Healthcare Hero!
Raising funds to provide nourishing meals to overworked Sydney frontliners whilst also providing some much needed revenue for local businesses.
I know times are tough for many, with the impact of COVID-19 reaching wide and far. Anything you can spare to help will be so appreciated by our healthcare workers. Gestures from the community in any form, whether it be fundraisers like this or even notes of encouragement, raises their spirits in difficult times like these.
If you are unable to provide monetary assistance, please consider reaching out to your local hospital and sending a note of thanks to our Frontline Workers. Just google the hospital name and find the general contact page and send an email!
Thank you for reading – Nagi x
Nagi…you are amazing! So caring and unselfish – what you’re doing for all these incredible hard-working people is truly thoughtful and will always be remembered as a bright spot in the middle of such uncertain times. Good on you!!
Thanks so much for your care and energy, Nagi. I have family members and friends in health care who are working so hard at the moment, some of whom live alone so are going home to an empty house after every shift. I have supported and posted on Facebook. xx
I love hearing this Kathleen!! N x
Nagi,
I would like to donate but would prefer to use PayPal rather than credit card. Is this possible?
Hi Megan, Sorry the website only accepts this payment type and not PayPal unfortunately – N x
What a powerhouse you are Nagi. Happy to donate from Perth to our hard working medicos in Sydey.
Thanks so much Lorraine! N x
Loving this. Big time!! Thanks for initiating.
Thanks Mihiteria! N x
Nagi,
This is incredible! Human kindness trumps everything and you and other Australians at our front line are amazing. Cheering so hard right now ❤️
Thanks Kerri! N X
Hi Nagi, what an amazing initiative! You’re truly a wonderful person! Left field question – Baptiste and Wilson as in the Baptiste and Wilson run by the wonderful Heather?
YES! They are amazing! N x
Nagi, you are a legend! I can’t tell you how much I love your recipes, you, Dozer and all that you are doing for the healthcare workers in Sydney. Incredible!
Thank you SO much Judy!!! N x
Nagi, I love this. I am in Melbourne, do you have any contacts or plan to expand here? And how do I donate?
Hi Kelly! It would be my dream to expand into other states – but I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew. So I’m starting in Sydney, will get this set up and rolling then look to take this into other states. Stay safe! – N x