Safety Comes First
January 1st, 2021
At the time when COVID-19 hit this country, the hospitality industry shut down. The effects of this impacted everyone in a way we never expected. But now, there are amazing hospitality groups that have come back to the surface with a different way of approaching our industry. Adelaide Catering Company was one of these groups. Having to redefine how we cater to clients was not only challenging but incredibly scary. We decided to make sure safety was our first priority for not only our staff but our clients. Beginning to individually box meals, gave us the opportunity to put those safety precautions into action. With sealing each box before it leaves the kitchen, and ensuring our drivers deliver with masks and gloves ensures that those standards continue to be a priority from the start to the finish.
As restrictions have begun to lift, we have had to implement a whole new set of safety procedures for our off-site catering department. With extra focus on keeping staff and guests safe throughout each event, we have given ourselves an extra peace of mind that we can transfer to our clients.
Now we are not only able to deliver a safe product, but still cater to those clients who we have missed so much.
Annual Homeless Thanksgiving
December 2nd, 2020
"While families fretted over spending the holidays apart from loved ones, a whole different segment of the population - the homeless - wondered what they would even eat and how they would stay warm.
Undeterred by the coronavirus pandemic, Béa O'Connor and her team... decided for the second year in a row to feed the homeless in D.C."
'I do something every year. Last year, I started with feeding 100 homeless and less fortunate people in a restaurant and this year, since I couldn't do it inside, I wanted to at least double it, so I did 254 bagged full thanksgiving meals,' O'Connor told Patch.
So O'Connor and volunteers assembled 300 individually packaged Thanksgiving meals for the homeless community and passed them out at the main circles throughout the District via a tour bus. All volunteers who helped distribute the meals wore masks and were socially distanced, organizers said.
'The delivery went awesome. We had multiple companies donate such as Sysco and Alsco, DC Nation Tours, etc. Most of the sides were bought by me with some companies chipping in for things. Usually I get everything donated, but this year had so many ups and downs I had about five volunteers to help me pack and deliver but my chef and I did all the cooking,' she said.
O'Connor's goal for next year is 1,000 bags of food and more volunteers. For her first event, approximately 140 people signed up to help."
Danley-Greiner, Kristin. “DC Homeless Receive Thanksgiving Meal From Georgetown Restaurant.” Georgetown, DC Patch, 2 Dec. 2020, patch.com/district-columbia/georgetown/dc-homeless-receive-thanksgiving-meal-georgetown-restaurant.
Annual Homeless Thanksgiving
November 24th, 2019
O'Connor will host at RiRa Irish Pub "its inaugural Thanksgiving brunch for homeless residents in Georgetown on Nov. 28." O'Connor "has collaborated with other local businesses and the Georgetown Ministry Center (GMC), a local organization serving homeless individuals, to put on the event. The Thanksgiving meal is expected to serve 150 guests from 8 to 10:30am.
The event serves Georgetown’s significant homeless population. Though the city saw an overall decrease in homeless individuals in 2019, more than 6,000 individuals continue to face homelessness according to the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness.
O’Connor, "shared her excitement to be hosting this new event that fills an unmet need of the growing local homeless population.
'We see a lot of lunches, a lot of dinners on Thanksgiving, but not many breakfasts. People still need to eat in the morning,' she said.
According to O’Connor, the brunch has been a collaborative effort with multiple local businesses and individuals. To put on the event, many local restaurants have donated dishes to feed the over one hundred guests. O’Connor stated that this offered businesses a chance to serve a group of residents that, though they might spend their time in Georgetown, may feel excluded and isolated.
'This is our opportunity to serve the entire community,' she said.
The Georgetown neighborhood, in part due to its relative safety, attracts a significant number of homeless individuals. However, there is no traditional shelter in the neighborhood. GMC helps shelter ten residents per year, who stay at various congregations throughout the winter. The organization also offers street outreach, with trained staff that offer medical and psychiatric care. Since 2013, GMC has partnered with the GU’s Center for Social Justice to operate the Hypothermia Outreach Team, which patrols Georgetown on particularly cold nights to help individuals on the streets avoid hypothermia.
At the event, staff and volunteers from GMC will be available to discuss other long-term services with guests. GMC staff “assist with benefits applications, referrals, housing applications, and counseling” for homeless individuals, according to the organization’s website.
O’Connor is hopeful that this event will be a positive experience for all in attendance and that it is the start of a Thanksgiving tradition.
'I’m hoping this can grow into something bigger for future years,' she said.
Remmel, Ryan. “Georgetown Restaurant to Host Thanksgiving Meal for the Homeless.” The Georgetown Voice, 24 Nov. 2019, georgetownvoice.com/2019/11/24/georgetown-restaurant-to-host-thanksgiving-meal-for-the-homeless.