Meals for Heroes, a campaign launched earlier this month that aims to provide meals to local health care workers, launched its first “Gratitude Lane,” in conjunction with New Hanover Regional Medical Center on Monday.

Gratitude Lane is a drivable loop located in front of NHRMC’s fitness center, where 100 hospital staff members a day can drive through to pick up hot meals from local food trucks every evening this week.

Scott Whisnant, community engagement administrator for NHRMC, said he believes the current donations will allow the food trucks to feed staff throughout next week as well, and perhaps even beyond that.

“The amount of donations we’ve received is very humbling,” Whisnant said. “We know that more people want to be a part of this and we have room for that.”

Meals for Heroes began distributing meals and gift cards to health care workers around the county last week, after bringing in over $11,500 within the first 24 hours of the launch of the GoFundMe site March 30. But because of safety concerns, organizers looked to find a way to distribute food to hospital staff members without having to enter the hospital.

Whisnant said the fitness center location is ideal because there’s plenty of room for the food trucks, as well as other vendors and organizations who wish to participate in handing out donations as workers drive by.

“It has been so gratifying to see the support for these workers who have put so much into the care of the ill and contagious,” Whisnant said. “Many of them were in tears as they drove through and were greeted with cheers and signs of support from vendors and hospital staff who are not involved in direct patient care.

"The atmosphere was very collaborative, gracious and upbeat and we’re so thankful for the support of this community.”

Whisnant said the hospital staff members were also given thank you cards made by local children.

This week’s participating food trucks include: Catch, Going Ham, Poor Piggy, T'Geaux Boys, 2 Bros Coastal Cuisine, Salty Sistas and Wheelz Pizza. Each of the trucks is paid for their service through the donations made to Meals for Heroes.

On Easter Sunday, Meals for Heroes coordinated the delivery of meals to 240 police officers and firefighters who were working that day. They received meals from Johnny Lukes, Junction 421, Michael’s Seafood, Ruth’s Kitchen, Sailfish Marina and South Beach Grill.

To learn more about Meals for Heroes, visit its GoFundMe page.

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