For the third consecutive week, Feeding the Front Line mobilized last week to deliver 100 5-star meals to healthcare workers battling COVID-19 at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, and Kent County Memorial Hospital. Meals are being prepared by participating Bristol restaurants: Leo’s, Le Central, DeWolf Tavern, Roberto’s and the Lobster Pot.

The effort started when Bernie Lambrese, a longtime healthcare entrepreneur, and his wife Kelly organized the campaign, Feeding the Front Line, along with close friends Roger Sherman and Rich Kulbeida. A GoFundMe page has been established https://www.gofundme.com/f/5c56js-feeding-the-front-line?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp?sheet, which has raised over $19,000 to purchase healthy, nutritious meals for hospitals around the state.

The goal of the campaign is twofold: support local restaurants that are struggling now, and provide a quality meal for the healthcare workers who are taking great personal risk and sacrificing their family life in order to treat families, friends, and neighbors infected by the virus. They have received great feedback. Dr. Gary Bubly of Rhode Island Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine, wrote to Bernie “A huge thanks to you, Kelly, Roger and Rich! In a time of suffering and fear for many in the community, economic hardship in the restaurant business, and high stress for our teams, you hit a home run!”

When current Hasbro volunteer, Vincent Marzullo, heard about the effort he contacted Bernie Lambrese to see if meals could be delivered to Hasbro since his playroom volunteer activities had been suspended due to the pandemic. That resulted in the Marzullo family donating for 20 meals and his outreach for other contributions.

“Encouraging acts of compassion will make our community stronger. These healthcare workers are hero’s along with our first responders, grocery workers, truck drivers, public safety officers” said Marzullo. For 31 years, Marzullo served as the RI federal officer for National Service promoting volunteerism and community partnerships. He, his wife, Josie & their daughter, Amanda, will be delivering the Hasbro 100 meals at 5pm today.

The GoFundMe page is accessible by going to GoFundMe.com and searching for “Feeding the Front Line Bristol RI”.