TEMPLE, Texas — Cheeves Bros. Steakhouse in Temple is like every restaurant in Texas during this time in history.
Its dining rooms are empty after the coronavirus pandemic forced them to move to delivery and take-out only. But Tuesday, they took on a larger order to support the medical workers at Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center in Temple. They donated 200 meals to workers in the ICU and emergency room.
"People actually care about them," General Manager Joe Wilson said. "They're working extremely long hours doing a difficult task and putting their lives on the line. Not just theirs, but their family's as well, to care for their patients. We just want them to know that we care about them and we want them to feel that they're supported in the community."
Wilson's wife and fellow general manager, Lauren, said the idea to launch their "Cheeves Cares" initiative and plan to donate meals came after one of their regular customers, a surgeon at the hospital, couldn't get to the restaurant to pick up his meal until after the restaurant had closed. She said in talking, they found out he has worked a 14-hour shift without much to eat that day.
"They're unable to receive deliveries," Lauren said. "They're unable to leave and get lunch off the property or off the premises right now. So, we saw that there was a big need to fill to be able to supply meals to those staff members that are there, working on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19."
Both said they want to be able to help workers multiple times each week to not only feed those fighting the virus hands-on but also provide their employees at the restaurant with opportunities for work.
Lauren said they received help from several businesses and people in the Temple-Belton area to help buy the materials to make the meals. They hope that either more people will want to help, or more restaurants will want to do the same. To help in that, she said they've started using #CheevesCares.
Ahead of their first delivery Tuesday, she said they got a lot of help in the 18 hours leading to the first drop-off. This has already set them in motion on their second delivery.
"We have, right now, $10,000 to support this program, which is substantial," Lauren said.
Among the sponsors are:
- Mary Jane Roach Realty
- Performance Food Group
- Monteith Title
- Joe & Pam Shepperd
- BGFN Accounting
- Wright Builders
- TCP Catering
- Cathedral Oaks Event Center
If you are interested in supporting the initiative, click here or call (254) 742-2300.
Also on KCENTV.com: