With hospital staff again spending more time than ever at work, a website will help people in the community fuel their health care workers.

“It was basically the community's idea to start again, and I think that says a lot,” said Cheryl Ramsey, manager of hospitality services for BHS.

Having received a number of donations, the system re-established a webpage to help people organize these donations. The webpage is similar to one the system used in the spring.

Vince Tavolario, owner of Natili's North in Butler, said he remembers a lot of donations coming in the spring too. He said a lot of pastas, pizzas, soups and salads were bought and given to the hospital staff. He said he also from time to time donated himself on behalf of the business.

“If our food makes them feel better, I'm all for it,” Tavolario said. “God bless them.”

Butler Memorial Hospital's page on SignUpGenius.com allows people to sign up for donating lunch, dinner or snack meals for hospital workers.

“It really speaks volumes when you see all that has been donated,” Ramsey said.

A maximum of 20 lunches and dinners can be donated each day. Ramsey said the 20-meal threshold came from lessons learned in the spring when similar donations occurred.

“Plus, it spreads the meals out,” she said.

After signing up, the donors would then call a restaurant of their choice, order the meals and then arrange the delivery. Donors can deliver the meal themselves or have the meal delivered by the restaurant to the Tower entrance, located at 1 Hospital Way in Butler.

The greeters at the Tower entrance will accept the meals and make sure they get to the right department. Donors and delivery persons are not permitted to go any further than the entrance.

Ramsey said the donated meals should be delivered individually packaged and not “family style,” and it may be helpful for the donor to communicate that to the restaurant when placing an order.

Ramsey also noted that donations to the snack category will help feed staff on the night shift, and the only additional stipulation to donations are that they are able to be placed in the refrigerator.

Ramsey said lunch and dinner donations are not as restrictive, but they ask that people seek their donation from local restaurants. On the webpage, a list of recommended restaurants provides a starting point, but Ramsey said other restaurants could be added.

Natili's is already on that list, and Tavolario said he was glad his food is given to the hospital staff. He said he has a son-in-law who works at a hospital in Ohio, so he understands the importance of the role and the stress that comes with it.

“The health care workers, you have to give them a tremendous amount of credit,” he said. “That takes a lot of courage.”

Tavolario said it is a shame that COVID-19 is spiking again. He said people need to continue living their lives, but he hopes they will follow the guidance in regard to masks, social distancing and hygiene.

“We all have to do our part,” he said.