TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — As one of the hardest hit industries during this pandemic, several community organizations teamed up to serve up some hospitality workers who need it most.
Held at Tallahassee Community College on Tuesday, the first person in line waited for two hours to make sure he got a hot meal.
Before noon, as many as 200 households got packages from Second Harvest of the Big Bend and Tri-Eagle Sales, including bags of hot food and a drink.
There were also gift cards. Hospitality workers, like Jacques Murphy, are trying to make ends meet after being laid off, and say efforts like this are a big help.
"This saves, like, a lot in our funds so we won't have to go out and, like, purchase food," said Murphy. "Just like helps the money prolong."
Others weren't there for themselves. Kim Stanley waited in line on behalf of a hospitality worker.
"My best friend is about to have her fourth child, and her husband was going to get a new job, and right in the middle of that they had a hiring freeze," Stanley said. "So, unfortunately, he doesn't have any work right now. So that's what I plan on sharing my food with."
Volunteers spent hours loading cars with free food and lifting spirits, supporting the community as they pay it forward.
Tri-Eagle Sales and Second Harvest expect to have provided as many as 2,000 meals throughout the event. Local restaurants also joined in, providing roughly $3,000 in gift cards.
