The New York-based sandwich chain also donated more than 100 trays of food to feed the staff at The Foodbank, 56 Armor Place in Dayton, and the staff at several Premier Health locations in April. DiBella’s also donated trays of food to staff at Grandview Medical Center.
AJ Shear, director of marketing for DiBella’s, said the company has raised about $365,000 across five states to donate meals. Meals donated to first responders or food banks stay in the community that the restaurants are in, Shear said.
“We know this is a challenging time, and we wanted to do the best we could by our communities,” Shear said.
DiBella’s has started a “Pay it Forward” campaign in which any customer who wants to donate a tray of sub sandwiches to first responders, health care workers, military and other essential workers will receive half off of that order. The fast-food restaurant will match the rest and take care of delivery.
More than 20 trays already have been delivered in the Dayton area, and orders continue, Shear said.
Also, starting Wednesday DiBella’s will expand the Pay It Forward program to include boxed lunches for local nurses during National Nurses Week. When a customer purchases a boxed lunch at full price for a donation, DiBella’s will match the donation and send boxed lunches to nurses in the community through May 16.
“Our subs travel well, and they’re easy to eat if you’re a doctor or nurse working and only have a few minutes to eat lunch or dinner,” Shear said. “They’re also individually wrapped so there’s less risk of contamination.”
DiBella’s also is offering half off all subs to first responders, health care workers, military and essential workers who order online, Shear said. This has led to more than $600 in discounts and fed more than 170 people in the Dayton area.
MORE: Want to donate homemade face masks? Here’s how to help.
About the Author
