Cooking for heroes
Nomad & Soup greens
The Suppengrün and Nomad teams are currently feeding a very special group of people: heroes. They are taking part in the Germany-wide "Cooking for Heroes" campaign, providing a hot meal every day, primarily to people in functional professions. Marco Weidlich, Managing Director of the two catering businesses, explains what the campaign is all about and who is supporting them.
How did you find out about the "Cooking for Heroes" campaign?
Marco Weidlich: We found out about it on the internet, as we are connected to many other restaurateurs via social media. The campaign started with Max Strohe at Tulus Lotrek in Berlin and that inspired us. We asked them whether "Cooking for Heroes" could be extended to other cities. They quickly organised it so that we could join in and get started.
What motivated you to take part in the campaign?
We were robbed of our normal work and naturally didn't want to throw away the goods we already had. We also wanted to do something good in Chemnitz for those who now have to work even harder than they already do.
Who is involved in the campaign in Chemnitz?
Our suppliers, Günthers Gemüseeck and Chefs Culinar, have similar problems to us and don't want any food to go to waste. That's why they are now delivering the goods they don't sell to us free of charge. Günthers Gemüseeck and the ChemCats basketball team also help us deliver the food. And the cook crews from Suppengrün and Nomad prepare all the food on a voluntary basis.
Since 30 March, the team and its helpers have been delivering around 200 lunches a day from Monday to Friday to various institutions. "Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a customised menu at the moment," says Marco Weidlich with a smile. This is because the menu is determined by the partners' respective deliveries. Depending on what they receive, the chefs conjure up a delicious meal in no time at all - sometimes even with dessert!
Who have you already delivered food to?
We have already delivered meals to nursing homes, pharmacies, rescue centres, clinics, a children's home, the job centre and a tax office. Anyone who would like us to deliver can contact us by phone or e-mail. So far, we haven't had to cancel any deliveries.
How have the recipients reacted?
We only get positive reactions. For example, the carers feel that their work is appreciated. It's nice to hear something like that. We want to give something back.
The team also collects donations at betterplace.me, primarily to cover the costs of packaging, electricity, petrol and waste. After all, with 200 lunch packs and sometimes 200 dessert packs a day, this adds up to quite a lot. "People who have received food from us often donate so that we can make others happy too," says Marco Weidlich.
How long do you want to continue the campaign?
We want to continue for as long as possible, i.e. until we can resume our normal work or as long as there are still goods available.
What are your hopes for the time after the pandemic?
We hope that we can return to normal operations soon and welcome back our regular customers. Because you build up a personal bond with regular customers. We would like to have that bit of normality back.