Katy Businesses Step Up to Support First Responders During Pandemic

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

April 8, 2020

By Natalie Cook Clark

As the nation continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Katy businesses and residents seek ways to support local first responders who put themselves at risk to help our community.

Katy restaurants continue to be one of the many industries struggling during this pandemic. The dining-in option was halted when Governor Greg Abbott and local officials implemented the order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many local businesses have adjusted operations to serve the Katy community through take-out and delivery. Some have even shown generosity by reaching out to provide first responders with meals.

Restaurant Staff Wants to Help

Katy’s Scholars and Scoundrels restaurant has been organizing different efforts to give back to the community and support people working critical jobs.

“As a team, we meet every Monday and we’ve been talking about how we can help,” says Shaun Monday from Scholars and Scoundrels.

The popular local restaurant recently hosted a blood drive with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, and they provided each donor with a free box lunch. There is a limit to how many donors the mobile banks can take, and the event booked up two days before the drive. 11 people donated which could potentially save 33 lives.

The staff at Scholars and Scoundrels still wants to do more. When customers place a take-out order, they have the option to donate a $7 box meal for first responders and healthcare workers.

“It takes 30-40 meals to feed one ER shift,” says Monday. “We’ve delivered $7 box meals to the ER staff at Methodist Hospital-West Campus.”

A Responsibility to Help

Casey Castro, owner and chef of Astor Farm to Table on Mason Road, has donated 500 meals to local first responders. By Friday, Castro projects his restaurant will have donated 700 meals to hospitals, fire stations, etc.

“I love my community and felt it was my responsibility to help,” says Castro. “My heart and faith inspired me to help by providing hot meals to first responders while they are fighting COVID-19 on the front lines to keep us safe.”

"My son is a first responder and I can't tell you how much this means to so many," says Jennifer Adame's on Astor Farm to Market's Facebook page. "These are all people who need to feel appreciated always."

Astor Farm to Table accepts donations to help fund these meals.

A Small Donation Can Help

Tacos A Go Go in Cinco Ranch is accepting donations to help feed first responders.

“$5 buys a meal for a hero (nurses, doctors, and first responders) that we will match and personally deliver,” states the Tex Mex restaurant.

Texas Borders Bar & Grill has donated food to first responders for three weeks now.

“We fed the entire Fort Bend County Sheriff dispatch, Fulshear PD, over 50 officers from all law enforcement have stopped in for lunch, and fed the Methodist ER on 1093. We are continuing to do this as long as we can,” says Kevin Wann, with Texas Borders Bar & Grill.

Chicken Salad Chick fed Memorial Hermann ICU workers last week and will continue to help the community.

So many restaurants and local businesses are working hard to support and recognize first responders. Did we miss your favorite restaurant? How are they giving back?