The Art League of the Chathams has donated $1000 to provide meals to health care workers serving on Covid-19 units at the Morristown Medical Center.

The donation was made through FLAG (Front Line Appreciation Group) of Chatham and Madison, a grassroots community group aimed at helping hospital medical workers on the front line treating Covid-19 patients and at the same time providing business to local restaurants, which have been limited to take-out and delivery orders during the coronavirus shutdown. The group uses donations to pay for the food prepared and delivered by the restaurants.

The hospital’s medical workers are banned from going to the cafeteria while caring for Covid-19 patients, so they often go without food during their long shifts.

The $1000 donation is estimated to feed 125 to140 health care workers twice a day. The food orders were given to eateries in Chatham Township and Chatham Borough.

The donation also provided food certificates to Chatham Borough and Township police officers, who assist in responding to Covid-19 calls.

FLAG was started by Chatham resident Liz Bernich, who was quickly joined by Gina McGuire of Madison. The idea has spread to other towns in New Jersey and to other states around the country.

There are now 108 FLAG groups in 27 states.

To learn more about FLAG of Chatham and Madison, go to its Facebook page here.