Smiles filled the room on Easter Sunday when Scott Brouse ’23 and Tyler Brouse ’25 delivered enough dinners for 40 members of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.
Such moments are being made possible by a Christ School family through the “Meals for Heroes” initiative in Wilmington, N.C. The goal is twofold – to provide food for men and women on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and support the beachside city’s restaurant industry.
The “Meals for Heroes” GoFundMe page had raised more than $28,000 as of Tuesday, far surpassing its original goal of $9,000.
Michele Brouse P’23, P’25 created the website, CaringtoDeliver.com, to inform Wilmington residents of how local businesses are adjusting in this challenging time. She then partnered with the Greater Wilmington Business Journal to start “Meals for Heroes.” The idea came from a similar effort in Washington, D.C.
Wilmington TV station gave “Meals for Heroes” some early publicity with a March 31 news report.
First responders who have received meals or restaurant gift cards include the Carolina Beach Police Department, the Kure Beach police and fire departments, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Facility, the Wilmington police and fire departments, and the Wrightsville Beach police and fire departments.
In addition, “Meals for Heroes” is arranging for food trucks to be stationed near the New Hanover Regional Medical Center so that 100 employees a day can pick up meals and other donated items through a "Gratitude Lane."
“It’s a tribute to the Wilmington spirit how quickly this came together,” Michele said.