Anonymity Never Tasted So Good

For two months, 65 sheltered seniors ate Wednesday dinners on the block.

A delicious surprise was delivered to 65 Queen Village seniors-in-need, made possible by four Fitzwater families who wish to remain anonymous and a chef with a hunger to feed the less fortunate.

While the stay-at-home mandate was challenging for everyone, for those with chronic health conditions, home quarantine became a fortress against an unseen foeWhile the stay-at-home mandate was challenging for everyone, for those with chronic health conditions, home quarantine became a fortress against an unseen foe. This was the case for 65 residents of Courtyard Apartments at Riverview, Queen Village’s senior center high-rise at the corner of 4th and Washington. After learning of the seniors’ plight, the Fitzwater friends cooked up an idea to have 65 hot, prepared dinners delivered to the seniors on Wednesday nights.

Next, they reached out to a Philadelphia chef and entrepreneur whose goal is to give away thousands of meals to the needy during the pandemic. Chef Harry Hayman, founder of the Feed Philly Coalition, developed a hot, healthy meal program funded by the neighbors. Then on eight consecutive Wednesday nights, each of the 65 quarantined seniors received a hot dinner, personally delivered by Chef Hayman, who added dessert at his own expense.

“Our residents were surprised the first time Chef Hayman arrived with 65 hot dinners,” said Courtyard Residents Council President Inez Green, who also serves as QVNA’s Vice President. “Wednesday nights became really special. It gave our seniors something to look forward to.”

Chef Harry Hayman made Wednesday nights special for 65 immunocompromised seniors. For eight weeks, he personally delivered hot dinner meals with desserts to them.

Chef Hayman has established a special fund to accept donations to extend the Queen Village Courtyard Apartments at Riverview dinner program. Each donation goes a long way—ten dollars covers the cost of creating and delivering each hot dinner meal. To donate: https://bit.ly/ Dinner4QVseniors. ■

About Feed Philly Coalition

Chef Harry Hayman IV founded Feed Philly Coalition, a centralized network of food rescues, soup kitchens, restaurants and food retailers. In its professional kitchen, Chef Hayman leads its operations, and his trained staff prepares healthy meals to feed the hungry and less fortunate with fresh food that would otherwise be wasted. For more information about FPC, see feedphillycoalition.com.

Hot meals prepared by Feed Philly Coalition are made with healthy, donated food that would otherwise have been wasted.