Borough Hall expands local meal program for frontline medical staff

The “Fuel the Frontlines” initiative provides meals from Queens Night Market vendors to hospital and EMS workers. Eagle file photo by Victoria Merlino

By Rachel Vick

A Queens Borough Hall initiative to provide meals to the New Yorkers fighting the coronavirus will extend until at least April 17, Acting Borough President Sharon Lee said Thursday.

The “Fuel the Frontlines” initiative provides fresh meals prepared by Queens Night Market vendors to hospital staff, and launched on March 29. The program will begin delivering meals to Emergency Medical Service workers, in addition to hospital staff.

“We’re eager to help feed the essential workers risking their lives for all our safety, while also providing a modest but important source of income for numerous small businesses during this crisis,” said Queens Night Market founder John Wang.

The program has so far received more than $20,000 in donations from individual and corporate donors. Twelve participating vendors packaged and delivered 2,000 meals in the first week of the program.