We might think that we are all in the same boat during this pandemic. We are all in danger with Covid-19, we must all stay at home during quarantine, we have all been economically affected either in our jobs or businesses, but the truth is that not all of us handle things the same way.
Many of us are healthy, we try to maintain a peace of mind, we don’t have to risk our lives to go out and save others, we have shelter and food. Within our complaints, we can stay home watching Netflix or laugh with TikTok, but thousands of people are living the same circumstances, facing other demons.
But you know what? This pandemic has also shown us the great hearts of many people and companies, who began to help, despite also suffering from the crisis that this virus has unleashed. I know there are thousands of heroes without capes, but since this is a travel blog, I want to highlight some hotels, chefs and guides who have shown their most caring side.
The Jupiter Hotel
This is a boutique hotel in Portland in the United States, which has been working in conjunction with the homeless services office and turned its facilities into a temporary refuge for homeless people with respiratory problems, which are symptoms of the coronavirus. Multnomah County was searching for spaces for the homeless, and the hotel made 81 rooms available during the pandemic.
Follow this hotel on Facebook.
Hotels Vincci
The Spanish hotel chain Vincci has joined solidarity companies by donating beds so that hospitals can attend more people in some cities in Spain. They also donated more than 60,000 items including gloves, face masks, antibacterial gel and bathing caps to health centers and official agencies to help them fight the pandemic.
Follow their news on Facebook.
Hotels Room Mate
Another Spanish hotel chain that joined the fight, welcoming healthcare personnel at their hotels who needed accommodation during the health crisis. In addition, through their social networks, they asked the population to send messages of encouragement to the health personnel and let them know that they are heroes.
World Central Kitchen
Before the pandemic, I already admired chef José Andrés, who deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for everything he has been doing for years, feeding millions of people in need. It must be remembered that not long ago, he showed the world his golden heart when he nurtured thousands of victims of Hurricane Maria.
Once again, the chef, who has managed to obtain two Michelin stars, has showed his best side and through his organization World Central Kitchen, he distributed -in a safe way- fresh food to take away. In addition to having distributed more than 2 million food packages, he has also committed to purchasing 1 million food packages from local restaurants in the United States, in order to support them to continue working.
You can follow them on their social networks:
Instagram and Twitter: @WCKitchen
Facebook: /WorldCentralKitchen
#ChefsForAmerica
Cocineros Unidos Yucatán
In Yucatan, Mexico, chefs David Cetina (La Traidicion restaurant), Alejandro Herrera (La Nostra Cucina restaurant) and Gerardo Llaca (Cuisine G gastronomic workshop) teamed up to bring food to homeless people. With the help of donations from local businesses that they mention on their networks, they arranged to bring food to marginal neighborhoods and nursing homes. I recommend you watch their videos on their Facebook page to find out the businesses that are donating food to them.
Row Venice
Gondolier women from Venice, through their organization Row Venice, have come together to bring food to those most in need such as the elderly and immunocompromised people. They also teamed up with local merchants and farmers to help them spread their produce across the city, helping small local businesses that are being hit hard.
To learn more about this organization click here.
Many thanks to these admirable beings and millions of thanks to all the health personnel who are risking their lives and are in the constant fight against Covid-19. Thanks to the cleaning staff of the hospitals, to the garbage collectors, to those who continue working the fields so that we can eat, to the staff of the supermarkets and to all those people who have helped us to survive these difficult days, while we have to do something as simple as staying home. We will get out of this one!
Main photo: © Samantha Higgins – World Central Kitchen/WCK.org
