Seven Country Clubs to Provide Food to Delray Beach Medical Center

Coronavirus Florida: Seven country clubs will provide 2 weeks of dinners for Delray Medical staff

By Mike Diamond Special to The Post

Posted Apr 17, 2020 at 3:00 PM

Seven south county area country clubs have banded together to provide two weeks of dinners for staff at Delray Medical Center to help staff there cope with the pressure and long hours the coronavirus has brought.

Beginning Monday, each of the country clubs - Addison Reserve, Quail Ridge, Polo Club, Delaire, Glen Eagles, St. Andrews and Woodfield - will deliver 200 meals on their assigned day. Menus have been shared to ensure there is no duplication. Addison Reserve starts things off Monday.

"This is such a wonderful thing they are doing," Delray Medical Center Executive Assistant Kathy Rossi said. "We are very grateful."

Rossi has been busy coordinating offers from area residents to deliver food to nurses and doctors.

"We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people in the area," she said.

All day long, Rossi said people drop off food in the lobby. One of the more touching examples: An engaged couple took back the deposit given to their photographer to provide snacks to staff.

The country club meals will be the hospital's single largest food donation.

We call it the 'Adopt a Hospital program,' " said Addison Reserve Country Club General Manager Michael McCarthy. "These people are putting their lives on the line for us. We wanted to make sure that they get a good, hot meal."

McCarthy said he sent an email asking if other clubs would be interested in "adopting" Delray Medical Center. Within an hour, he had commitments from six other clubs. Hospital staff will be getting complete dinners in individual to-go containers with desserts.

"It is not just the doctors and nurses," McCarthy said. "It is everyone there that deserves our appreciation."

These will be same dinners that residents of the country club receive.

"Our members have been suggesting that we do something to help Delray Medical Center," said Kraig Spina, general manager of Glen Eagles. "When this idea was broached, we jumped at it. One of our residents is a nurse there. It is a way of showing our gratitude."

McCarthy said that he is hopeful things will calm down during the next two weeks but if they do not, it is possible that the dinner program will be extended.

He said other country clubs near Boca Regional Hospital are considering a similar program there.

So what does Monday's dinner look like at Delray Medical Center?

From Addison Reserve's menu: Pulled barbecue smoked brisket with baked beans, corn on cob, mac and cheese, cornbread, banana pudding.