April 27th, 2020: United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) has partnered with Windows Catering to provide meals to frontline hospital personnel in medical facilities across the region including doctors and nurses, as well as medical staff such as front desk personnel, custodians, security workers and other employees who are responding to the increase in healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opportunity is made possible through a $100,000 donation from a Windows Catering customer who is championing the opportunity for a small business and its employees to stay afloat by supporting the tireless efforts of these first responders and their support teams in these medical facilities.

Delivery of 8,000 meals will continue over the next three weeks to reach medical facilities in Maryland, Virginia and DC. For example, a total of 500 lunch meals are being delivered today and tomorrow to Children’s National Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Each healthy meal is individually wrapped and boxed. Lunch deliveries will continue throughout the week. Beginning April 20, lunch and dinner meals will be provided to additional medical facilities in DC and Maryland, including George Washington University Hospital, Doctor’s Community Hospital and MedStar Southern Maryland. Expansion to five Inova Health Systems locations throughout Virginia will commence the week of April 27.

“As a part of Windows Catering’s overall emphasis on corporate social responsibility initiatives, seeking a way to get involved in our community during the coronavirus pandemic was only logical,” said Andrew Gerstel, CEO, Windows Catering. “Windows and United Way have enjoyed a 20-year relationship, and by providing healthy meals to first responders in the metropolitan Washington DC area, we have an opportunity to expand on our partnership and give back to the community that has supported us for so many years. Knowing how challenging and difficult it is for our first responders, who are literally risking their lives, the least we can do to express our gratitude and support is to provide them with a healthy meal.”

As a leader in mobilizing communities, convening like-minded groups, and being the catalyst to provide capacity to nonprofits partners, United Way was a natural choice for Windows Catering to select as its partner to orchestrate the meal delivery program. United Way NCA is well suited to support the collective mission of connecting Windows Catering to its partners and supporters including neighboring hospitals, such as Children’s National and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

“We are so grateful for these special donors who are helping us to provide creative and innovative solutions to help our community during these unprecedented times,” said Rosie AllenHerring, President and CEO of United Way of the National Capital Area. “The donation is a wonderful example of how an individual or company can help a small business keep jobs for its employees while providing an essential need for our community’s heroes who are fighting this pandemic. It’s also a huge boost in morale for everyone.”