The owner of the iconic Fulton Street restaurant, bar and cafe, Brooklyn Moon, has watched his community go through many things over his 25 years behind the bar.
There was the dot com crash, the subway strikes, 9/11 and many other seismic shifts in the city. But Michael Thompson said he has not seen anything like the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet one thing remains the same — his dedication to his community.
Thompson and his team are cooking, packing and delivering 200 meals a day of his Caribbean/Southern soul food to hospital staff in the Borough, including Brooklyn Hospital, Interfaith Medical Centre, and EMS battalions.
"They're very grateful," he said. "They're overworked and it's nice to have someone thinking about you, they're literally double-dutching with death through their work.
"We appreciate that because any of us could be in there there's no guarantees here."
The effort is backed by a Gofundme called Brooklyn for Life! started by Brooklyn actor Jeffrey Wright, which has raised more than $115,000 since it was launched on March 25th. Graziella's Italian Restaurant is also part of the initiative, making and delivering meals every day, and Greene Bites bodega, across from Brooklyn Hospital, is being supported to give the hospital staff a $500 credit each day.
The Gofundme says the aim is to keep Brooklyn's grills and ovens hot to feed our community healthcare warriors, supporting both industries.
Thompson said you can see the smiles in the eyes of hospital staff as the meals are delivered, and with the community's support he will keep them coming seven days a week until this thing is over.
