Local Restaurants Team Up to Feed Pottstown-area First Responders
Friday, May 22nd, J.J. Ratigan Brewing Co. and The Blue Elephant will be presenting a surprise “lunch bomb” for the first responder organizations of Pottstown and surrounding communities.
The meals will be distributed from 12pm to 3pm by Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities at their location at 57 N. Franklin St., Pottstown.
“These men and women serve our communities every day. But now – with COVID-19, their jobs are more critical and more stressful than ever. Heading into Memorial Day Weekend, we thought it would be an appropriate time to say THANK YOU for your service to our communities… at this time – and all the time.” ~Keith Costello, co-owner/partner J.J. Ratigan Brewing Co.
Three key things make today’s donation possible:
(1) A “social distancing” fundraiser was held at J.J. Ratigan Brewing Co. on Friday, May 8th, area musicians – Thomas Jay Martin, Matthew Bailey and Tom Flott – performed live to help raise the funds. The event was streamed live on Facebook, where viewers were able to watch the live show and make donations. Donations were accepted directly through Facebook and collected by Tri-County Community Network. Over $650 was collected during this event!
(2) J.J. Ratigan Brewing Co. and The Blue Elephant committed to matching the donations in ingredients and materials and also donated the labor required in producing the meals.
(3) Food distributors, US Foods and Hurter Food Distributors made substantial contributions to the effort by donating food items.
The combination of these efforts resulted in producing enough food to feed 1,500.
Police, fire, ambulance, critical care, EMT and municipal staff will be included in the donation. The following municipalities have been invited to participate in the donation pick-up: Douglass Township, East Coventry Township, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Upper Pottsgrove Township, West Pottsgrove Township , New Hanover Township, North Coventry Township, and Pottstown Borough.
Any additional meals will be donated to Pottstown Hospital – Tower Health.
J.J. Ratigan Brewing Co. offers take-out dailys from 11 – 8pm. Serves BBQ and new American food with craft beer to-go. Order online at: jjratiganbrewing.com
The Blue Elephant offers take-out daily from 11:30 – 8:30pm. Serves Asian fusion, fine dining and sushi with wine & cocktails to-go. Order online at: blueelephantbar.com