Suzette Cook
Dave Anders of Dave’s New York Deli in the Tioga Town Center refers to all first responders as “superheroes.”
So he decided to reach out to local businesses to help out feeding them throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every week since the pandemic started, businesses have been buying meals for local law enforcement, fire rescue crews and medical personnel. Big Trees Plantation and Lunch for LEOs stepped up and bought dozens of meals. The Brentwood Company, a general contractor in Alachua County, has been buying meals each week.
“We’ve been kept very, very busy feeding first responders,” Anders said.
Most days he serves up about 30 meals for the responders when a business buys them, he said, but on May 2nd, an invite sent out by Tioga residents and Owners of Haile Jewelry and Loans Clint and Sheena Asbell turned into a 100-meal donation.
“Would like to treat ALL on duty, first responders, law enforcement and medical frontline (employees) to breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Dave’s New York Deli Town of Tioga on Saturday, May 2nd,” the invitation posted on social media announced. “Thank You ALL for everything you do for our community!”
Anders said he wasn’t expecting the gesture, but all day long first responders came in and ordered whatever they wanted, “and we just kept a tab open.”
From open to close for any and all first responders and any “medical professional, fire, police, anybody that has a badge, scrubs,” got a free meal, Anders said.
The Asbells posted on the company Facebook page, “Felt amazing feeding nearly 100 First Responders, Police Officers and Sheriff along with Front Line Medical Professionals this Saturday at Dave’s NY Deli in Tioga!
“We know it wasn’t much, but just a little Thank you from Sheena Asbell and I along with our business Haile Jewelry & Loans!! And a Huge Thank you to David Anders and his Awesome Staff for providing these men and women some amazing food!”