The Costakos and Ricci families are donating hundreds of prepared lunches over the next several weeks to the North Bay Regional Health Centre frontline healthcare workers.
The meals will be distributed to staff working in areas of senior care and mental health at the hospital says a news release from the families.
The program will provide 50 weekly lunches for distribution to the hospital that will continue into the month of July.
Michael and Paul, childhood friends, grew up in North Bay and although currently reside in Toronto, still consider North Bay home.
“We wanted to give back to a wonderful community that gave us so much. We are North Bayites through and through and have wonderful memories of growing up in such a special place.”
At the suggestion of Michael’s 16-year old son Anthony Costakos, the idea to provide the meals was the perfect opportunity to show appreciation to those heroes that are on the frontlines.
"With the assistance of Anthony’s parents, Michael and Mary Costakos and their daughter Kaitlyn, the family was able to put a plan in place to coordinate and execute the meal program," says the release
"With such deep roots in North Bay, our families feel a responsibility to support our frontline community workers with a nourishing meal to express our gratitude. We couldn’t be more grateful for those on the frontlines making daily sacrifices to fight the coronavirus."
It is Michael and Paul’s hope that this meal program can be expanded by offering it more times per week.
"To accomplish this, we are encouraging fellow businesses including former or residing North Bayites that share our affinity for this great city to step forward and help contribute to keep this program going and, in the process, help hard-hit small businesses such as restaurants.
“Our goal is to create more awareness and rally the community in support of North Bay’s dedicated health care professionals that serve daily on the frontlines as well as to support our small businesses. We want to continually thank them and we need to take care of them.”
