By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – Here’s a little story of love rolling in our Filipino community as we deal with the invisible enemy coronavirus. Since I’ve been covering stories about the pandemic, it is natural to think of the people in the frontlines, as I, like most Filipinos, have family and friends who are nurses and doctors.
Inspired by the energy and innovation of entrepreneur Augelyn “DJ Chinita” Francisco of Kabisera Kape, I thought of sending some support to the nurses of Mt. Sinai Morningside hospital in the form of food. Several of them had taken care of my daughter Nikki while we were battling against colon cancer.
So I spoke with DJ who’s been doing coffee runs for front liners through the donations of individuals and groups. A simple order of 12 meatloaf burgers and coffee for the nurses on the 6th Floor of Mt. Sinai, please. And at once, DJ scheduled my order with a love note to the nurses, supporting them at this challenging time and thanking them (again) for the immense devotion they gave to Nikki for the one-and-a-half-months that she was hospitalized in October and November 2019.
It was a pleasant surprise that DJ had more than doubled the delivery on that Saturday for RN Grace and her colleagues – Shar, Joan, Belen, Tess, Kim, Jessica, Kuya Po, and everyone else whom I haven’t mentioned. Thanks to another group of donors, the 3Stone Ministry, which added to the entire provision and delivered it as well. Bless their hearts!
A few minutes later, I received a text message from Grace and later a call to say thanks on behalf of the entire team from the 6th Floor. She cried remembering Nikki. And of course, I cried as well. She’s an angel now and smiling upon us, she consoled me.
Grace said that the Kabisera Kape delivery made it a little easy for them, because most of the the coffee places around the hospital have closed. It is getting more and more difficult, ate, she said, but noted that admissions have recently slowed down. They’re still scrimping on their PPE, but it was not scarce as in the past weeks, she said.
As for DJ Chinita and her coffee run, the mighty entrepreneur and her team are still at it. As I write, she’s doing the 21st run to whichever hospital is it now. Kudos to her team who are front liners themselves.
I keep track of her deliveries and appreciate how we as a Filipino community survive any crisis with love and in style. It’s a heart to heart thing: from the donor, to the business lady, to the nurses who need a lot of support at this time.
I am going to order another coffee run again soon, DJ. (Featured photo: It’s a love meal for the nurses on the 6th Floor of Mt. Sinai Morningside)
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