It’s a bone-chilling time to be a first responder or healthcare worker.
In Tampa alone, one police officer has already tested positive for the coronavirus, with 45 other Tampa Police officers under monitoring. Local municipalities and counties are practically begging on behalf of hospitals for donations of personal protective equipment to combat a national shortage.
The last thing first responders or healthcare workers really want to think about is where their lunch is coming from.
Tabellas at Delaney Creek wants to help with that. On Thursday, the event space—located at 5818 Causeway Blvd. in the Palm River-Clairmel neighborhood of east Tampa—tapped catering companies and food trucks to help create “Tampa Carryout.”
The concept has six food trucks parked on site for drive-thru service from Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and it’s dishing free meals to first responders and healthcare workers. Tampa Carryout is also open to the public; paid purchases help pay for the free meals.
To get a meal, all the public, first responders or healthcare workers have to do is call the individual trucks ahead of time or visit tampacarryout.com and place an order, pull unto Tabella’s, stay in their car and wait. The food truck will notify customers when their order is ready at their pick up tables. There is no outdoor seating or dining; customers must stay in their vehicles.
Right now, the food trucks onsite include Nico’s Arepas Grill, Station House BBQ, Coco’s Latin Cuisine, Hoke Poke, Hot Smokin’ BBQ, and chef Rene Valenzuela’s Mexican Kitchen.
“Our mission is to feed those who are serving our community during this stressful time while simultaneously giving the public a convenient and safe drive-thru takeout option,” Tampa Carryout wrote in a press release.
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This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2020.