FUEL THE FRONTLINES

Updated: May 22, 2020

Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee has announced a second extension and expansion of “Fuel the Frontlines,” the joint initiative in partnership with the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) and the Queens Night Market to provide thousands of freshly-prepared, individually-packaged and ready-to-go meals to hospital workers, EMS workers and now MTA bus operators on the frontlines battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally a one-week initiative funded by Borough President Lee to support a dozen local small food service businesses and workers across Queens’ nine hospitals, “Fuel the Frontlines” has now extended cumulatively to two months and expanded to serve first responders and MTA workers, while partnering with an additional dozen small businesses.  See the full distribution list of the over 8,000 “Fuel the Frontlines” meals prepared and delivered thus far to frontline workers in the past four weeks, updated daily, below.

The additional extension pulls “Fuel the Frontlines” through Friday, May 22 and expands the meal deliveries to hundreds of MTA workers across five Queens bus depots. The extensions have been made possible due to generous contributions ranging from $5 to $40,000 from numerous individual and corporate donors, including from Resorts World Casino in South Ozone Park — bringing the total amount of funds raised to more than $88,000 since the launch of the initiative on March 29.

“Queens is deeply grateful to all the partners who have made this two-month extension possible in support of small business, frontline and essential workers here in the Borough of Families, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Borough President LEE. “It’s a hyper-local, collaborative effort to stem the tide and bend the curves of this unprecedented public health and economic crisis. This virus has left very few unscathed, and every effort counts in this race against time.”

Individually packaged meals will continue to be prepared by small businesses either enrolled in QEDC’s innovative Entrepreneur Space (E-Space) commercial kitchen incubator in Long Island City or vendors who participate in the seasonal Queens Night Market in Flushing Meadows Corona Park — some of whom will continue to prepare meals at Kommissary, a commercial kitchen in Long Island City.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will continue to transport many of the meals to the hospitals. Both QEDC and the Queens Night Market will continue to waive any administrative costs associated with the “Fuel the Frontlines” initiative for participating small businesses.

“Fuel the Frontlines” aims to both support the tireless medical professionals working long, difficult hours on the frontlines, while also supporting Queens’ small businesses facing severe economic disruption stemming from social distancing measures taken to combat the public health crisis. Unemployment claims have reached historic levels over the last four weeks, with more than 1.4 million claims filed in New York State and more than 26 million filed nationwide between the weeks ending March 21 and April 18, according to the federal Department of Labor.

“Fuel the Frontlines” hopes to continue inspiring subsequent funding commitments from corporate and individual sponsors in order to extend or expand the initiative. To make a monetary, tax-deductible donation in support of “Fuel the Frontlines,” click the button at the top of this page.

Completed meal deliveries include:

  • Sunday, March 29
 
  • Monday, March 30
    • 250 meals to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center prepared by Two Tablespoons
 
 
  • Wednesday, April 1
    • 125 meals to Mount Sinai Queens prepared by Magnolia Cafe
    • 125 meals to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills prepared by Magnolia Cafe
    • 125 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by KINI
    • 125 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by Roast n Co
 
 
  • Friday, April 3
    • 125 meals to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens prepared by Roast N Co
    • 125 meals to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens prepared by Korilla BBQ
 
  • Monday, April 6
 
  • Tuesday, April 7
    • 125 meals to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens prepared by Makina Cafe
    • 125 meals to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens prepared by KINI
 
  • Wednesday, April 8
 
  • Thursday, April 9
 
  • Friday, April 10
    • 250 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by Korilla BBQ
    • 250 meals to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens prepared by Bourbon Street
 
  • Monday, April 13
    • 300 meals to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center prepared by Two Tablespoons
    • 80 meals to FDNY EMS Station 46 in Elmhurst prepared by RESOBOX
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 45 in Woodside prepared by Makina Cafe
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 47 in Far Rockaway prepared by RESOBOX
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 49 in Astoria prepared by Makina Cafe
 
 
 
  • Friday, April 17
 
 
  • Tuesday, April 21
    • 150 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by Harissa Grill
    • 150 meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center prepared by Dilena’s Dolcini
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 50 in Jamaica prepared by RESOBOX
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 54 in Springfield Gardens prepared by RESOBOX
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Queens Tactical Response Group in Jamaica prepared by RESOBOX
 
  • Wednesday, April 22
    • 125 meals to Mount Sinai Queens prepared by Get’N Sauced.
    • 125 meals to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills prepared by Roast N Co
    • 125 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by Terry & Yaki
    • 125 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by Teranga
 
 
 
 
  • Tuesday, April 28
    • 200 meals to the MTA Flushing bus depot prepared by Korilla BBQ
    • 200 meals to the MTA Flushing bus depot prepared by Kiyas Delicias
    • 150 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by Moffle Bar
    • 150 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by Pabade Bakery
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 50 in Jamaica prepared by Eat Gai
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 54 in Springfield Gardens prepared by Eat Gai
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Queens Tactical Response Group in Jamaica prepared by Eat Gai
 
 
  • Thursday, April 30
    • 400 meals to the MTA Queens Village bus depot prepared by Eat Nom Squared
    • 150 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by Makina Cafe
    • 125 meals to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills prepared by Nansense
 
  • Friday, May 1
    • 150 meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center prepared by Good Food Works
    • 125 meals to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens prepared by Arepalicious
 
 
  • Thursday, May 7
    • 125 meals to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Forest Hills prepared by Moffle Bar
    • 125 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by Arepalicious
 
  • Friday, May 8
 
  • Tuesday, May 12
    • 80 drinks to FDNY EMS Station 46 in Elmhurst prepared by Tea & Milk
    • 50 drinks to FDNY EMS Station 45 in Woodside prepared by Tea & Milk
    • 50 drinks to FDNY EMS Station 47 in Far Rockaway prepared by Tea & Milk
    • 50 drinks to FDNY EMS Station 49 in Astoria prepared by Tea & Milk
    • 50 drinks to FDNY EMS Station 50 in Jamaica prepared by Tea & Milk
    • 50 drinks to FDNY EMS Station 54 in Springfield Gardens prepared by Tea & Milk
    • 50 drinks to FDNY EMS Queens Tactical Response Group in Jamaica prepared by Tea & Milk
 
  • Wednesday, May 13
    • 150 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by Chori & Chimi
    • 150 meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center prepared by Arepalicious
 
 
  • Friday, May 15
    • 150 meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center prepared by Good Food Works
 
  • Wednesday, May 20
    • 150 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by Warung Jancook
    • 150 meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center prepared by King Souvlaki
    • 80 meals to FDNY EMS Station 46 in Elmhurst prepared by Brazilicious
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 45 in Woodside prepared by Brazilicious
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 47 in Far Rockaway prepared by Brazilicious
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 49 in Astoria prepared by Brazilicious
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 50 in Jamaica prepared by Brazilicious
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Station 54 in Springfield Gardens prepared by Brazilicious
    • 50 meals to FDNY EMS Queens Tactical Response Group in Jamaica prepared by Brazilicious 
 
  • Thursday, May 21
    • 150 meals to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center prepared by KINI
    • 125 meals to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital prepared by Makina Cafe
 
  • Friday, May 22
    • 150 meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center prepared by Arepalicious
    • 150 meals to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens prepared by Chori & Chimi