Meals available

Redkey’s Key Diner opened Thursday.

On Monday, Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered all restaurants to close their dining areas for the foreseeable future.

It would have been easy for owner Brian Hill to close Key Diner and wait for the coronavirus pandemic to end. Instead, he’s keeping his restaurant open for carry-out and offering a free meal to any child who needs one.

“I believe I’m always here for a reason,” said Hill, who is working solely with his daughter, Madisyn, to offer free sack lunches for children between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for the foreseeable future.

Hill is one of several local restaurant owners providing free or reduced-cost food for those most affected by the outbreak.

Charity Wimmer, co-owner of Portland’s Pit’s Cocktail Lounge, organized a delivery service for hot meals to the doorsteps of the elderly at a reduced cost.

The elderly can get a meal for free, ranging from a pot roast to meatloaf with a side of vegetables and fruit.

“We’re just trying to help,” Wimmer said.

She’s working with a half dozen of her bartenders to transport food across the county and delivered about 20 meals Monday, the first day Pit’s tried delivery.

The restaurant rarely delivers, but with the inability to operate her restaurant normally, Wimmer says she is discussing the possibilities of opening up its delivery options to everybody.

Her bartenders have no bar to tend to, so they’re acting as delivery drivers to do what they can to make money. Wimmer estimates it costs much more than the charged $5 to prepare the meal and deliver it but wants to keep delivering at a low price to those who need it “for as long as we can,” she said.

Delivered food is dropped off on a porch, after which somebody living there is notified the food is there to cut out as much human contact as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called for social distancing — staying at least six feet away from others in public spaces — in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Like Hill, Portland Pizza King owner Brian McGalliard is giving away a few dozen 8-inch pizzas a day to local children. The food acts as a substitute for the reliable meal kids receive when attending public school, which was shut down in Jay County last week. Jay School Corporation is offering free “grab and go” lunches for students starting today.

“If you’re in a position to help people, you should help people,” said McGalliard.

He closed his dining area Monday but will continue to offer carryout and delivery.

Key Diner’s free sack lunch includes a cold-cut sandwich with a side of fruit and is available to children through carry out.

McGalliard’s free pizzas are also only available through carry out.

Those in need of delivery from Pit’s can contact Wimmer on Facebook or call the bar at (260) 726-8208.