Hungry workers at hospital call out for food deliveries
Liina Flynn
17 April 2020, 3:54 AM
Health Services Union (HSU) organiser Peter Kelly calls out to local food businesses to supply menus to hospital staff.Today, the call went out to local Lismore businesses who can help feed hungry workers at Lismore Base Hospital.
With the hospital’s café now closing at 5pm, hospital workers who work evening and night shifts no longer have anywhere to buy their meals.
Health Services Union (HSU) organiser Peter Kelly said over 100 workers were daily affected by the café’s closure, and they all wanted to support local Lismore food businesses by buying their meals.
“Hospital workers are putting in long hours to keep their people safe during this difficult time,” Mr Kelly said.
“We are all locals and we all eat and want to do our bit to get fresh meals from other locals.
“We want to support businesses doing it tough down town – especially businesses open for dinner hours.
“When I talked to some of the hospital workers, their eyes lit up at the idea of some of our local cafes and restaurants delivering them food. We have some great burger joints here as well as great restaurants.”
Mr Kelly said the Fresh Plus café at Lismore Base was currently working on reduced hours due to the changed visiting hours, and closing at 5pm Monday to Friday.
If any local businesses want to help out with food deliveries, Mr Kelly said they should email their menus to Lismore MP Janelle Saffin’s office.
“We’ll make sure the menus get to the workers and place them on staff noticeboards at the hospital,” Mr Kelly said.
Ms Saffin said local restaurant The Flavour of India was already delivering meals to the hospital on a regular basis, and delivered free entrees and mains for up to 30 people to the hospital on Wednesday night as a thank you gesture to workers.
“Spending money with local cafes and restaurants is one way we can help keep the doors of those businesses open, and keep people in jobs,” she said.
“One thing about our community is that we stick together and support each other.”
Cafes and restaurants interested in delivering to hospital workers can email copies of their menus to Ms Saffin’s office at lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au.
