On behalf of our tourism partners, the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau wants to thank all of you that have supported our industry during COVID-19. Your takeout and delivery orders, virtual “visits” to our attractions, and donation of funds to industry workers and organizations in need will not be forgotten.
We also wanted to recognize the great work our region’s tourism industry has done or is doing to support first responders and other COVID-19 relief efforts. This is only a partial list. We are sure there are many more efforts that have not reached our ears.
- Bonefish Grill (national with a location in Wilmington) is providing free meals to healthcare and other essential workers as part of #thankyouthursday.
- Caffe Gelato and Santa Fe Mexican Grill, both of Newark, partnered with the Fraternal Order of Police Newark Lodge #4 to deliver meals to hospital front line workers in different units every Thursday through May.
- Cosi (national with a location on the Wilmington Riverfront) is working with a number of organizations to deliver meals to frontline and essential workers. Customers can also donate meals to recipients of their choice, and Cosi will provide the delivery.
- Checkers, with several locations in the Wilmington area, is partnering with No Kid Hungry and donating $100,000 nationally, enough to provide up to 1 million meals to children in need.
- Dead Presidents Pub & Restaurant in Wilmington has been helping first responders and those on the front lines in numerous ways. They are providing meals independently and with the help of corporate sponsors. They also set up a tab for the frontline staff of a local hospital with the help of friends and regulars.
- Docklands on Wilmington’s Riverfront hosted a live stream event on its Facebook page to aid local bands, with all donations collected going to the out-of-work musicians who were featured.
- Drip Café in Hockessin is working with its customers to provide lunch to those on the front lines. Customers donate the lunches, and Drip Café provides free local delivery.
- Eggspectation’s Newark location is collecting funds to supply meals to those on the frontline. Customers can add a donation to their takeout order or scan the restaurant’s QR code on its Facebook page and click the “donate now” button. It also partnered with the Feeling Lucky band to host a livestream concert benefitting its “Feed the Frontline” program.
- First Food Delaware partnered with Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, on Wilmington’s Riverfront, to provide lunch to the Wilmington Fire Department. To join the First Food movement and provide meals to the COVID-19 affected community, go to www.firstfoodde.com.
- FranksWine.com in Wilmington is offering discounts on wine, champagne and beer to all healthcare professionals. Customers who have receipts to show that they have patronized a local restaurant during COVID-19 receive a discount as well. The store also created positions for restaurant workers that were temporarily displaced as a result of the stay-at-home order.
- Gianni's Pizza & Grill in Trolley Square partnered with New City Church to provide lunch to all floors of St. Francis Hospital.
- Limestone BBQ & Bourbon in Wilmington, part of the High 5 Hospitality Group with Eggspectation, is also taking part in Feed the Frontline, collecting funds to supply meals to frontline workers.
- Luna’s Pizzeria and Italian Grill in Middletown has teamed up with other local businesses to start a pizza drive to feed hospital staff, first responders and police officers. Go to their Facebook page to support this effort with a simple share/tag.
- Piccolina Toscana in Wilmington has established the “Show the Love” program that enables businesses and individuals to sponsor a meal for the healthcare heroes at Christiana Care, St. Francis or Nemours. Delivery is free.
- Platinum Dining Group - with restaurants including Eclipse Bistro, Capers & Lemons, Redfire Grill Steakhouse, and Taverna – partnered with the Delaware Dental Foundation to provide 150 meals to nurses and doctors at emergency rooms Wilmington and Christiana Hospitals.
- Red Roof properties nationwide (with locations in Newark and Wilmington) are opening their doors to first responders at no cost.
- The Reef Delaware in Wilmington partnered with Tito's Handmade Vodka in April to serve 150 free meals to those in the service industry and others displaced from their jobs.
- Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen, which will soon be opening a new location in Wilmington, is offering a 50 percent discount for all pickup and curbside delivery to medical workers, grocery store employees and employees of the U.S. Post Office. The discount will last until the pandemic is over.
- Savanna Salad Bowls & Sandwiches (in the Riverfront Market) and its parent company, Hakuna Hospitality Group, launched Food First Delaware! The program enables individuals to send meals and groceries to people impacted by COVID-19 and those aiding in the cause.
- In addition to providing a ton of online resources to help restaurants adopt their businesses in the time of COVID-19, Sysco (nationwide) is donating 50 cents to @NoKidHungry (up to $150,000) for every image shared on social media using #TakeOutToGiveBack and #TeamNoKidHungry.
- Tonic Bar and Grille in downtown Wilmington has been teaming up with local businesses throughout the pandemic to deliver meals to frontline workers.
- Touch of Italy (multiple locations including Wilmington) started the “Family Meal Matching Program.” Every time a family meal is purchased, Touch of Italy donates a second family meal to a frontline worker.
- Zoup! Eatery (nationwide with locations in Newark and Wilmington) provided medical workers and frontline responders with free soup every Monday for the entire month of April.
While this time has not been easy, these collective acts of kindness show we can achieve great things when we come together as a community to help each other.
Thanks again to everyone who has supported the COVID-19 relief effort, from our frontline workers and government officials to those in the tourism and hospitality industry who have stepped in to help even when struggling to make ends meet.
As regulations begin to loosen and our industry adjusts to the new normal, we ask that you continue to support our tourism businesses and attractions. Your sustained patronage is critical if they are to make a recovery.