NORTH SMITHFIELD – The owners of several Slatersville restaurants want to show support for staff at Landmark Medical Center, and are hoping for the public’s help to continue providing free meals to hospital staff.
Four North Smihfield businesses along School Street and Main Street, identified as “Restaurant Row,” have signed on for the program, promoted by The Village Haven general manager Donna Naradowy.
“With our community’s support, we are hoping to help those who are working hard to help our families during this crisis,” a GoFundMe page on the fundraiser notes.
The Village Haven, which initially closed after state officials banned all dine-in restaurant services in March to curb the spread of Covid-19, reopened with a limited menu in mid-April.
The other restaurants taking part – Lucky Dog Tavern, Lindy’s Tavern and Hercules Beef Wings and Pizza – all sit within a mile of the well-known family-owned business, opened in town in 1977.
Naradowy said the restaurants have been providing food to emergency staff including local police and firefighters as a ‘thank you,’ during the pandemic. When she found out the cafeteria at the Woonsocket hospital is closed at night, she launched an effort to send food there as well.
“I thought it would be a good idea to get it a step bigger,” she told NRI NOW this week. “The night staff has been my ficus right now.”
Naradowy approached the neighboring restaurants to see if they’d like to take part.
“We’re all friends in that neighborhood,” she said.
The restaurant manager has been coordinating the food deliveries with hospital officials. This week, The Village Haven brought food to Landmark staff on Nurses Day and Mother’s Day.
The fundraiser she notes, will allow the restaurant collaboration honoring those on the front lines fighting the pandemic to help out even more.
“With help, we can prob do it for longer,” Naradowy said.
“With your support, we can continue to provide meals made by these restaurants to those working the front lines to help our families,” noted a flyer on the program. “Our hope is that with the support of our community we can continue to feed them for as long as this crisis is going on.”
The GoFundMe page set up by Naradowy had garnered $1,550 of the $4,000 goal as of Monday, May 11.
Those with questions about the fundraiser are asked to contact Naradowy at (401) 641-8642.
