Students Help Deliver Meals to Health Care Workers

AuBree LaForce, a third-year Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine student, recently teamed up with her sister Allie LaForce, an NBA TNT reporter, and brother-in-law Joe Smith, a Houston Astros pitcher, to provide meals for health care workers in Cleveland, Houston and Tampa. 

Wednesday, April 8, LaForce and Shana Williams, a fellow third-year College of Medicine student, delivered nearly 300 meals to Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital in Lorain, Ohio. Both students are Mercy Health scholarship recipients and will work for the health system upon graduation.

LaForce shares more about her family’s initiative.

Being a third-year medicine student during this pandemic has left me wishing I could do more. We are right on the verge of being able to join the frontlines and help in the medical field, but unfortunately aren’t quite there yet.

As COVID-19 continues to affect millions of people, I knew had to do something. My sister and I were talking about ways to give back and she mentioned that she and her husband, Joe, were going to start  Project FRONTLINE through their foundation, Athletes and Causes. Since they are currently out of state, I told her I wanted to be a part of it and bring it to Northeast Ohio. My sister and brother-in-law  contribute funds and spread the word on social media to raise money, then I deliver the meals to the hospitals.

Project FRONTLINE is a fundraiser to feed those on the front line of this pandemic and support a local restaurant who is struggling, as well. Thousands of meals have already been delivered in Tampa, Houston and Cleveland.

Earlier this month, we delivered roughly 300 meals to Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital in Lorain, Ohio, to the men and women working countless hours and risking their lives each and every day. There are many more deliveries scheduled in the Cleveland area.

The goal is to continue raising money so we can continue delivering meals and supporting local businesses and restaurants. We won’t stop until every penny is used.

I am humbled and honored to be able to give back to those who are risking it all. Their tireless hours spent away from their families and sacrifices they are making may not ever be paid back, but I hope to have at least a little impact and support them in any way I can.

From first responders to nurses, doctors, and hospital staff — the health care workers in this pandemic are the true heroes. They are risking their lives every day to get through this. This is the least I could do.