There are no words to express the shock, sadness, and heartbreak surrounding the collapse of the Champlain Tower South condominium in Surfside.

As a native New Yorker, it is hard not to flash back 20 years ago to 9/11/2001 when the World Trade Center towers fell.

This felt as raw, and once again, like on 9/11 we all felt helpless not being able to do anything. The images over and over again of the collapse, the first responders frantically looking for survivors and this week’s final demolition of the unstable remaining portion will stay with us for a long time.

But, for many of Miami’s best restaurants, there was something that could be done.

Food is Love. Food is Community.

Food and meal donations poured in, at one point overwhelming the Fire Rescue Command Center, World Central Kitchen arrived with food trucks, and the Red Cross set up families of victims, survivors, and evacuated guests at the Solara timeshare next door to the Champlain in area hotels. Condo and hotel evacuees fled their buildings barefoot, without ID, money, and personal belongings.

Food Rescue US- South Florida also mobilized, providing chef-prepared meals first to the evacuees and guests from Solara staying at SLS Brickell, Staybridge Suites, and Cambria Suites and then to the families staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott.

To date, over 25 restaurants have provided over 1000 meals, many delivered by the chefs themselves or picked up and delivered by Food Rescue US volunteers. Freshly prepared lunches and dinners have been delivered every day and will continue as long as necessary.

MIAbites in collaboration with Food Rescue US would like to thank all of the amazing chefs and restaurants who poured their hearts and compassion into every meal.

Whether it was freshly made Sullivan Street Bakery deli sandwiches from local Surfside restaurant, Josh’s Deli or Braised beef over rice with plantains and homemade chocolate bread pudding from Chef Michelle Bernstein, or Chef Niven braving hours of traffic to personally deliver Chicken Piri Piri from Mamey, every meal was our restaurant communities way to help Surfside and offer comfort to the grieving families.

Thank you :

Bagel Bar

Big Mamas BBQ

Café La Trova

Chef Creole

COTE

Coyo Taco

Doce Provisions

Foozo Pizza

Harrys Pizza

Josh's Deli

Jungle Island/Joia

Kilgore

L'Artisane

Lil Greenhouse

LittleBrazil

Mamey

Michaels Genuine

Oggis

Open Kitchen

Pamela Wasabi Bakery

Pincho

Rolling Pin Bakery

Rosies

Society BBQ

Tijuana Flats

Taquiza

Three Wynwood

Yardbird

Food Rescue US will be on the ground as long as needed and hope the meals provided will help with the healing of this broken community.

Food is Love. Food is Community. Be The Rescue.

To donate to Food Rescue US Miami’s Surfside Relief fund please visit:

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/food-rescue-us/support-food-rescue-us-miami