The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce is hoping to give a boost to people on the job to keep essential businesses and services functioning while waiting for the all-clear signal as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic runs its course.

Beginning this week, the Chamber is organizing the first in an ongoing series of “Frontline Heroes” food deliveries, an initiative to “serve our brave frontline workers during this trying time to get a healthy meal,” the organization said in a statement.

While a gesture of thanks to those whose jobs are too critical to afford any opportunity to wait out the pandemic from home, it’s also intended to serve as a small stimulus to still-open restaurants with flagging customer traffic. The idea, said the Chamber, is to “help our local restaurants to get some much needed cash flow, and [to give] local companies the opportunity to support local needs at the same time.”

The Chamber is coordinating the logistics for local restaurants to deliver meals to Cullman Regional, the Cullman Police Department, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, the Cullman Fire Department, Cullman EMT, the Hanceville Fire Department, and the Hanceville Police Department.

“We would like to thank our sponsors for their generosity in helping us provide these meals to our frontline heroes,” said the Chamber’s Jessup Moore, adding that anyone who’s interested in pitching in can visit the Chamber’s social media pages for information on how to lend a hand.

With the program just getting started, the Chamber is on the hunt for as many meal sponsors as it can take on. If you’re interested in sponsoring future meals for Cullman County’s frontline workers, contact the Chamber at 256-734-0454 or email Brian Poole at bpoole@cullmanchamber.org.