GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Greensboro man and his daughter have started a fundraising campaign to provide meals to healthcare workers at Cone Health hospitals.
After grabbing lunch from Stamey's earlier this month, Maury Kennedy says he drove by a nurse at Wesley Long Hospital.
"I said to my family, 'I just wish I could do something. I wish I could give her my lunch,'" he said.
It was then that the wheels started turning.
"So the idea hit me why not raise money to feed the nurses by buying food from the very restaurants in town who are struggling. Everybody kind of wins for the day," Kennedy said.
So Maury along with his daughter Julia started a GoFundMe campaign to feed frontline healthcare workers. They initially raised enough money to feed 150 people and worked with Stamey's to provide the meal.
"I woke up the next morning and low and behold we had raised enough money to feed the entire hospital again," Kennedy said.
The campaign exploded.
"It has literally been one $10 donation after another. To date, we're up to $11,000 and we've fed 1,000 hospital employees so far," Kennedy said.
RELATED: Downtown Greensboro Incorporated helps provide free meals to health care workers through GoFundMe
Since then they've partnered with about 9 restaurants around town.
Kennedy said he's refused any discounts restaurants offered while including a 20% tip on the orders.
"Because ultimately we want this entire campaign to benefit local business as much as it puts a smile on a nurse's face," Kennedy said.
The Kennedy's also teamed up with Triad Pawprints, a local t-shirt company, to provide a free t-shirt to everyone who donates. It features the design of local artist Jen Rice. For Julia, being apart of this project holds a special meaning because she's studying to become a nurse.
"It honestly feels amazing because ever since I was younger I always looked up to them and everything they've done for me in any of my family members that's come into an encounter with a nurse," Julia Kennedy said.
Maury Kennedy said the community shocked him in the best way possible.
"We never intended for this to be an ongoing campaign but for as long as the money continues to come in we are going to continue feeding nurses," he said.
No donation is too small in Cone Health's eye who says they are so thankful for how the community has wrapped its arms around their workers.
"Whether you are one person who just sent one meal to a team member one time or you are someone like Maury who's been able to raise resources to do it multiple times, it really does make a huge difference and we are so grateful," Tricia Teter, philanthropy officer for Women's and Children's Services at Cone Health said.
Stay connected to local, national and breaking news: Download the new WFMY News 2 app.
►Text the word APP to 336-379-5775
►For the latest weather conditions and forecast text the word WEATHER to 336-379-5775
►For traffic alerts text the word TRAFFIC to 336-379-5775