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Tampa General Hospital first responders receive meals from local restaurants

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TAMPA, Fla. — Every day, first responders at Tampa General Hospital are receiving free lunches and dinners from a different local restaurant. It’s part of a new organization called Together For Tampa.

Louis Pappas Restaurant delivered 50 Greek salads on Sunday.

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Pappas said that his business was built on family, and that family extends to the Tampa community. They are one of 14 restaurants that have joined Together For Tampa.

He wanted to send a special thanks to the hospital and Together For Tampa, for allowing his business to give back to those who need it most.

“Well I was honored number one, and I was privileged, I felt privileged to be part of it,” said Pappas.

The meals are paid for by community donations. So far, Together For Tampa has raised more than $10,000.

“During this time it’s very scary and uncertain and just to have a little bit of that joy being spread, just to show that people really are grateful for for what we do is very special,” said Andrea Barnett, who is a nurse at Tampa General Hospital.

Barnett said her colleagues' eyes light up and their stomachs rumble when they see the lunch cart coming down the hall. Every time they open the container, it’s a surprise.

“A little bit of a taste from each restaurant in the community that maybe we haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing,” said Barnett. “And just getting to meet the owners and hearing how much they appreciate us and having that face to face interaction is really great too.”

For more information on Together For Tampa, click here. Select the COVID-19 Fund, and type “Together For Tampa” in the comments section.