The solidarity initiative Food Trucks are Safe, arrives today in Porto. On São João’s day, the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, which celebrates 61 years of existence today, receives the food truck that will serve lunches, between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, to approximately 350 health professionals from that unit and who are on the front lines in the fight against Covid-19.
Food Trucks Factory, a company of the Verso Move Group, a leader in transforming vehicles into Street Food, launched a campaign to support professionals at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19, distributing coffee, snacks and pastries free of charge of cream. This initiative has yet another aspect, and, in some cases and places, it has served free lunches to the professionals of the health units and has been attended by Chef Chakall on those occasions.
The Food Trucks are Safe solidarity campaign was created and implemented by Food Trucks Factory, Association Street Food Portugal, Designaqui and The Agency. This initiative was supported by Nestlé, Delta Cafés, McVitie’s, Panidor, Garden Gourmet, Paladin, Vitacress, Blue and Président that guaranteed the donation of food.
To promote (and encourage) the recommended good hygiene and safety practices, the initiative also counted on the collaboration of the Miap application, which through a QR code previously enabled the choice of the menu, as well as payment through the app, in a Click & Grab optics with contactless technology.
The solidarity actions started on April 22 and, to date, around 10,000 professionals have been impacted in the front line in the fight against Covid-19 – doctors, nurses, INEM professionals, Firefighters, Civil Protection, GNR, PSP and employees of cleaning.
Food Trucks are Safe has passed through such different places as the Cartaxo Health Center, the Barreiro Firefighters, the Santarém District Hospital, the Cartaxo and Almeirim Municipal Firemen, Torres Novas Hospital, Leiria Hospital, Civil Protection District of Santarém. More recently, in early June, the initiative returned to the road, in an intensive week by several hospitals in the metropolitan area of Lisbon. Now, he travels to Porto next June 24th.
According to Luís Rato, mentor of the initiative, “we are facing a very positive response from the industry that shows that it is prepared to help feed the country in crisis situations like this. We want to give the maximum possible comfort to health professionals and other professionals in the front line, thus preventing them from making long trips to replenish their energies ”.
On the action that arrives in Porto this week, Luis Rato also states that “it will certainly be a very different São João this year in the city of Porto … Without the usual festivities, but maintaining fundamental values so characteristic of the Portuguese people and the city of Porto. Porto in particular: a strong sense of community and a spirit of solidarity. ”
Chakall, who has been “on duty” preparing meals, underlines the importance of these actions and the involvement of partners. “Being able to count on so many partners in an action of this nature is very rewarding. As I often say, we are family, they are more than companies or business partners. They are friends, they are family and together we are always stronger! Special thanks to everyone who made this action possible and answered ‘Present!’ In the first minute! At this very peculiar time, it is important to give back to those who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe and healthy! ”
