Pantops Restaurants Featured on CBS19

CBS19 News spotlight on Pantops Shopping Center donating meals to healthcare workers.

Full article and video Here.

Kimberly Skelly, the executive director of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation, said they wanted to partner with local restaurants to really show their frontline staff how much they’re appreciated.

“Our health care providers are extremely resilient and brave,” she said. “But they’re also under a lot of stress, and getting food donated from the community is like giving our health care workers a hug.”

Skelly said they started what they call the “meal train.” On Thursday, Mi Casita delivered more than 250 meals. Earlier in the week, the Lazy Parrot did the same.

Emily Mooney, the marketing director of Great Eastern Management Company which owns the Pantops Shopping Center, said Mi Casita and the Lazy Parrot were lucky enough to be able to keep their doors open with carry-out during this time.

“Some of our restaurants have had to close unfortunately due to COVID,” said Mooney. “We reached out to all of our restaurant tenants seeing if they would be interested in doing this. And Mi Casita and Lazy Parrot both responded that they would be delighted to help out the community in any way that they can as well.”

Mooney said between this week’s donations and what is planned for next week, the two restaurants will give more than 1,300 meals.

“Anything that we as a community can do to support them as they support us, it is just such a great opportunity,” said Mooney.

Skelly said the community has really done its part in supporting the hospital staff.

“Seeing the signs, having the meals, the donated masks, the contributions, it tells us that we’re all working together to do our part,” said Skelly.