State Senator Cynthia Creem proposed a $175,000 earmark in the state budget to help both the local restaurants and the citizens in her district and the funding for the program has been enacted.
Under the program, the state will buy 10,000 prepared meals from independent local restaurants in Newton, Brookline, in Wellesley between now and June. The meals will then be donated to local food pantries, senior & family programs, and other persons in need within the city.
In Newton, the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Newton Rotary Club to manage the program here. The state will regularly order $15 full meals, 50 at a time, from participating restaurants. Any local restaurants that want to participate can sign up here.
Sorry, Jerry, but this summary is unclear as to whether this remains a proposal or has been signed into law.
This is a very creative idea
I just clarified the post a bit to make it clear that it’s not just a proposal.
Yes it has been enacted and restaurants can sign up via the link above.
Kudos to Sen. Creem for proposing this innovative program, and to the Chamber and Rotary Club for operating it. This one program will doubtless do more for the survival of many Newton residents than any of the lip service without action we’ve heard from city government over the past year. Well done, Sen. Creem, way to show the locals what leadership looks like.
Oops I meant restaurants not residents. But maybe them too!
We are lucky to have some creative thinkers at the Beacon Hill and in our city.