Fundraising appeal to buy meals for healthcare workers in Brussels

Local fundraiser Meals4healthcare is stepping up its appeal for donations to deliver meals to healthcare workers on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus.

The campaign, supported by Brussels professional networking club Full Circle, has already raised more than €38,000 – providing €15 meal vouchers for staff at CHU Saint-Pierre thanks to free delivery by Uber eats.

With a target of €10,000 a week, fundraisers are extending the scheme to include other hospitals and clinics.

“There are 100 meal vouchers a day going to Saint-Pierre staff and we are backing parents from the Italian section of one of the European schools to further support deliveries to another leading hospital via a network of local restaurants,” explains Bridie Nathanson, co-founder of Full Circle.

The scheme has also been extended to the Iris Sud Molière Longchamp hospital. As the hospital has not been able to run its canteen, the scheme is providing it with 60 meals a day three times a week from local restaurants, she says. Discussions are also on-going with the Red Cross to support some of its volunteer workers with home delivery meal vouchers.

Among the Brussels restaurants and caterers involved in delivering food, are Orientalia, The Kiwi traiteur, le Pavillon, Trinacria, Yama Sushi, Chez Fleur, and Beautifood.

Up to now, the campaign has largely been supported by staff of the European institutions. It was initiated by two European Commission workers and Full Circle members. 

"The idea is not just to support healthcare workers and hospital support staff, but also to reach out to local restaurants whose customer base has shrunk,” says Sibylle, who kickstarted the campaign. "Staff from EU institutions have been very keen to do more to show their support for healthcare workers than just clap at 8pm. I’ve been taken aback by the generosity of my colleagues.” 

Full Circle guarantees that all funds raised will pay for meals for healthcare workers. Any remaining funds at the end of the scheme will be donated in full to UN and WHO Covid-19 initiatives as well as the King Baudouin Foundation fund for hospitals and residential care establishments. 

Minimum donations of €15 (one meal) can be made by bank transfer to:
Account name: Meals4healthcare (Full Circle asbl)
IBAN/Account number: BE86 7350 5644 0850
BIC code: KREDBEBB
Reference: (Your organisation or your name)

For more information, see:http://fullcircle.eu/meals4healthcare/ or contact: info@fullcircle.eu