By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
Two local businesses came together to provide meals for essential healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis last week. Suburban Propane and Chick-fil-A Cicero delivered 1,250 boxed meals to Crouse Health on April 28.
Headquartered in New Jersey, Suburban Propane has 700 locations across the country, including offices in Phoenix, Auburn and Cortland. The company’s community outreach pillar, SuburbanCares, is undertaking similar initiatives in New England, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Nandini Sankara, spokesperson for Suburban Propane, said the company’s fully owned subsidiary, Agway Energy Services, is a partner of Syracuse University Athletics, and Crouse is SU’s official hospital partner.
“It was a synergistic opportunity we were honored to be part of. Suburban Propane is very involved in the local communities we serve, and this initiative in supporting our local healthcare workers is critical during this challenging time,” Sankara said.
Each meal included a sandwich, a bag of chips and a cookie.
Suburban Propane is not just providing meals for workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
“During these incredibly difficult and uncertain times, our employees have worked tirelessly and partnered with several medical facilities and hospitals to support their immediate need for temporary heat for numerous propane-powered medical and triage tents across our footprint that are being used to test and treat patients with the coronavirus (COVID-19), especially in New York and New Jersey where the number of cases have been particularly devastating,” Sankara said. “We are also providing temporary heat and hot water for RV units and portable showers to be used by medical professionals and other critical personnel.”
Sankara said Suburban Propane is “evaluating ongoing developments” in the COVID-19 crisis to keep its employees and customers safe.
“We remain committed to providing the superior service that our customers have come to expect from us, despite a modified method of interaction as a result of adhering to the advice of the CDC to practice social distancing,” Sankara said.
@CrouseHealth tweeted about the meal donation April 28, “Gotta love Chick-fil-A Cicero and Suburban Propane, in the house today to provide our staff with the most amazing chicken sandwich ever. Thanks for supporting our healthcare heroes!”
