It’s always been very important to me to teach my children the importance of giving back. I’ll never forget when I first started Little Miss Party, I had a client who was a friend from my mom group. She got married in her Soho loft. It was the first wedding I had ever planned. After the wedding she was left with tons of beautiful floral arrangements, food and desserts. She called me the day after the wedding to thank me for such a wonderful event and to tell me that she donated all leftovers to the Bowery Mission with her 4 year old daughter. It just so happened, there was a couple getting married there that day and it was the perfect timing for such a thoughtful donation. That story will forever be in my heart.

When the quarantine for the Corona Virus began, I was terrified. Not of getting the virus, but of all the changes that were about to occur in my life. Once I got over the shell shock of having to be at home, with my children, as their mother, teacher, chef and cleaning lady for the next _______ months, I moved on to stressing over those in need. I worry about the kids missing out on school lunch, and the homeless men that we’ve cooked meals for while volunteering through CAMBA. I worry about all of the incredible people who are putting their lives on the line for people like me and my children every single day that this virus lasts. I quickly realized, damn. I need to help.

For starters, in a small attempt to keep Little Miss Party alive and inspiring to our followers, I wanted to change up the direction of our party boxes to include activities for kids (and adults!) to do while staying safe at home. It was important to me to take a portion of the sales and donate those less fortunate. We chose the Food Bank For NYC as a nod to our Little Miss Party home, which my heart breaks for, yet again.

Last week I heard on the radio that a restaurant in San Francisco was delivering meals for an 'adopt a doctor' program. I LOVED this idea and the fact that it also supported restaurants during these tough times. This all led me to want to adopt a doctor, nurse, essential worker in NYC and by adopt, I mean feed them. Since food is how our family shows love, comfort, and solidarity, and we wanted to share that with the workers who could use an easy meal and comfort during these times.

Together with the help of my amazing team, we have worked with restaurants suggested by our followers and restaurants that we love and want to support to buy meals for those saving lives and risking their lives during this global pandemic.

Here are some the amazing restaurants and organizations that have set up programs to safely donate food to health care workers. They’ve made it so easy for anyone to donate, so we wanted to share all the links with you! We know this is only a short list as the community has been rallying around our health heroes in a huge way. If you’ve found other places with similar programs in place, please feel free to share with us and all our readers in the comments below!

Sauce Pizzeria - Sauce has started a GoFundMe page to be able to provide up to 900 pizzas each day to hospitals, first responders, and law enforcement around NYC who are working hard to keep everyone safe.

The Meat Up Grill - Their Soup-4-Support campaign will help deliver food to the city’s first responders. They are preparing fresh soups to drop off at local hospitals and emergency service locations daily.

Mimi Cheng’s - One of our favorite dumpling spots in the city has started a Dumplings for Doctors campaign. They are dropping off nutritious, home-cooked meals for our heroes in NYC hospitals on a daily basis.

Order Pantry: Toronto - Their Pay-It-Forward option on their order page donates meals directly to health care professionals and their families.

Highway Restaurant and Bar - Highway will deliver meal vouchers to EMT Stations, Easthampton Village Police and Southampton Hospital for their use on and off duty to thank them for keeping our community and loved ones safe. 

Perfect Picnic NYC - Their Picnic with a Purpose initiative delivers meals daily to local hospitals and Covid-19 response centers.

Blue Hill Farms - You can donate a box of prepared food filled with local, organic, fresh and preserved vegetables and grains to community hospitals and their teams. Each box serves 10 hospital workers.

Deborah Miller Catering - The Deborah Miller Catering team has secured relationships with hospitals and first responders across New York City and the greater Tri-State area to coordinate food donations to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Pizza Cupcake - With your purchase of a 24-pack, we’ll donate 1 box of Pizza Cupcakes to the heroes who need support right here in our community, right now.