National coronavirus charity program launches area chapter

FORT MYERS — A national organization founded to work with restaurants, hospitals and other medical facilities to feed people working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis recently expanded to Southwest Florida. 

The organization, Frontline Foods, was founded in New York City and San Francisco and has since grown to 34 chapters, powered by over 400 volunteers, according to a statement. It’s raised over $1.6 million, provided more than 50,000 meals to frontline workers and supported over 135 restaurants, the release adds. Frontline Foods has other locations in Florida, including Tampa, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Diana Willis, owner of Jason’s Deli in Fort Myers, brought the idea to Lee Health after participating in the program with other Jason’s Deli locations across the country. With the support of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Frontline Foods works with local restaurants to provide daily meals to Lee Health’s 10 different frontline medical locations treating COVID-19 patients, the release states.