Share the Love!
In an effort to support frontline, essential workers as well as local restaurants during the “Stay healthy. Stay home” statewide order, Heart of Biddeford launched a fundraising campaign called, “Share the Love” on Tuesday, April 20. To date, nearly $12,000 has been raised through the online campaign. Heart of Biddeford will use 100% of the funds raised to place daily orders with participating restaurants, who will then deliver meals to Southern Maine Health Care as well as to other essential workplaces such as the fire and police department and grocery stores.
According to Heart of Biddeford’s director, Delilah Poupore, they started the fundraising goal modestly on Tuesday morning at $2000. That goal was surpassed by 10 a.m.
Poupore knew that people were generous, but she was genuinely surprised by the degree of support. “Mid-afternoon on the first day, I received a call from Doug and Lauren Sanford from the Pepperell Mill Campus, who said they wanted to contribute $5000. They hope this will help local restaurants get back up and running, as well as help the people that have been keeping us safe and healthy. Nearly 100 people have donated whatever they could, and some have shared a portion of their economic stimulus checks.”
Southern Maine Health Care was enthusiastic about the idea. Nathan Howell, SMHC President says, “The outpouring of generosity from local restaurants and the Heart of Biddeford has been extraordinary and the meals will be appreciated by our team members who are working so hard to care for our community during this pandemic. We are so grateful to be part of this community.” Poupore added that she is already planning special deliveries during National Nurse’s Week, which starts May 6.
Deliveries begin next week with Biscuits & Company providing breakfast biscuits, Cowbell Burger Bar delivering burgers and Time & Tide delivering morning coffee. Ciel Caldwell opened LaundrYup in 2019, a full-service laundromat with a gourmet cafe, in downtown Biddeford. Caldwell will be delivering mac and cheese and salads for a department with 30 people next week. She recently posted a haiku about her support for the “Share the Love” campaign, which summed up the spirit of this program for many:
HOB is us.
We are stronger together.
Frontline stay safe. Live.
Heart of Biddeford shifted focus to this program because many of its customary events and programs have been postponed due to coronavirus safety measures. Poupore says, “We hope to keep the restaurants very busy, and it feels good to “share the love” with the people who are always thinking about and caring for others.”