Dozens of Capitol Hill and Central District food and drink businesses have found ways to continue serving their neighborhoods and stay in business through the COVID-19 crisis. Some have found a way to do a little more.
12th Ave’s Ba Bar is at the center of an effort to keep the area’s frontline health care workers fed as they work long hours under challenging conditions. The 100 Meals a Day campaign has already raised more than $38,000 in donations to keep the effort going:
What began as a small community of Ba Bar partners, friends, and family donating $500 per day to feed 100 hospital workers per day has grown exponentially with the partnership of Seattle Science Foundation and Dr. Rod Oskouian and Dr. Jens Chapman.
It began with meals for the local Swedish Cherry Hill and First Hill facilities and is growing in partnership with Cherry Hill’s Seattle Science Foundation. The initial plan, Ba Bar says, was to be able to feed workers for 60 days. That goal has since stretched to 90. You can give here.
The effort joins others across Seattle to help health workers and show appreciation for their efforts. 100 Meals a Day also brings together several leaders from the city’s Asian business communities:
The initial idea was born from a conversation between Ba Bar owners Eric Banh and his wife Teresa Nguyen and Duc Tran, founder of Viet-Wah Market (the first market for the Vietnamese community in Seattle), who jumped in to donate $3,000 to feed hospital workers 100 meals for six days. Then, his business colleague offered to sponsor another six days of meals. Next, Sandy Huynh and Van Nhu Huynh, founders of Asia Discount Produce (a specialized Asian vegetable and produce vendor that has been working with Monsoon since 1999) wanted to sponsor. Then Chef Sophie Banh (Eric’s sister and business partner) and her husband Sowady Chhoukdean from Monsoon jumped in with their support and contributed $3,000 for six days of hospital meals.
While Eric and Sophie Banh of the Saigon Siblings company behind Ba Bar and Monsoon have pared back their offerings by temporarily shuttering some locations, they continue offer takeout at both the 12th Ave and University Village Ba Bar location.
You can learn more at babarseattle.com.
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