Want to support frontline workers during COVID-19? Restaurants are here to help

In trying times, few things can offer comfort like good, hot food — or some frosty ice cream.

Andy Ameres, owner of Shake Station in Ellenton, has delivered hundreds of his restaurant’s signature shakes to frontline workers in Manatee County since the COVID-19 crisis began.

Masked and gloved, bright red cooler bags in tow, Ameres walks through front doors and surprises nurses, grocery store workers and first responders with a little bit of love from the community in milkshake form.

“You have no idea how surprised they are, how happy they are, how grateful they are,” Ameres said. “Just for the fact that they never get thought of — they go unnoticed.”

The shipments of shakes are made on behalf of local residents and businesses who want to show support for those essential workers putting themselves at risk to keep the world running.

The concept has spread like wildfire over social media, so much so that Ameres has started receiving requests to pay for milkshakes from out of state. Many of the donors choose to stay anonymous.

“It started local and people just caught on,” Ameres said. “I was just doing it to help out. To try to show appreciation for all these frontliners and essential workers. People are coming through and catching on from across the globe and donating and donating and donating.”

Ameres said he has been booked three weeks out for deliveries. The extra work has allowed Shake Station to take on more staff during a time when other restaurants are cutting back.

“It’s a blessing in these dark times,” Ameres said.

Other local restaurants are offering similar programs.

Mattison’s, with restaurant locations and a catering business in Bradenton and Sarasota, has been delivering meals to essential workers on behalf of local businesses since March.

“This is a very trying time for many businesses,” owner and chef Paul Mattison said in a press release. “But no one has it more difficult than the healthcare workers and first responders who are dealing with this unimaginable situation daily and often in close proximity to those who have the virus or may be contagious.”

More than 10 local businesses have sponsored the delivery of hundreds of meals to frontline workers around Manatee and Sarasota counties, including at medical facilities, police departments and the homeless community.

The restaurant owner is also seeking to donate to local non-profits in need of food.

“Feeding people is what we know how to do and what we do well so when we asked ourselves, what can we do to help, it was a no-brainer,” Mattison said.

The donation programs are also a way to help keep restaurants running and staff employed.

“It’s a help us help you type of a deal,” Ameres said.

And, there are additional benefits.

“To see the expression on their faces,” Ameres said of the shake recipients. “What more can you ask for? I’m blessed that I have the platform to be able to do this.”

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center staff recently took to Facebook to thank the many local businesses who have shown support to medical workers through donations of food and drink.

“Our hospital staff has been so fortunate with the outpouring of support from our community during this COVID-19 pandemic,” a post from the hospital said.

And sometimes, the giving just keeps going.

“Our Food and Nutrition staff received fresh produce given to LWRMC and Manatee Memorial Hospital from US Foods and we passed along this gift to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Inc. Food Bank and the St. Joseph Food Pantry today,” the hospital shared.

Similarly, some other members of the local restaurant industry teamed up to show some love for the staff at Shake Station.

The manager of Chili’s Grill & Bar in Ellenton, Tracey M. Duquette, treated Ameres’ staff to pizza from Ferraro’s Italian Grille in Parrish on Wednesday.

Then Ameres and Ferraro’s owner, Salvatore LoGrande, surprised Duquette and her staff at Chili’s in turn with pizza and shakes later that day.

See more of Shake Station’s local ice cream donation adventures at facebook.com/ellentonflorida.