(Courtesy photos)

With seed money and creative energy from a plaintiffs law firm, restaurant workers have been keeping their paychecks during the new coronavirus pandemic while serving meals to those on the front lines of the medical and emergency response across Georgia.

Butler Wooten & Peak launched BWP Cares April 4 with $12,000 donations for each of the three cities where the firm has offices: Columbus, Atlanta and Savannah. Soon more donations began coming in—some with preferences for other cities. Services were added in Macon and LaGrange. In two weeks, the program has raised $52,000 and paid for 6,100 breakfasts, lunches and dinners in Columbus, plus 2,000 in Savannah and 1,600 in Atlanta, according to Brooke Peak, the firm's marketing director and wife to partner Brandon Peak.

The inspiration for the project came while she was at home with their four children and watching news about the heroic efforts of health-care workers and emergency responders. Then she saw a report about a Savannah woman, Jennifer Green, launching a service called Meals to Medical in her city.

"That's what we need to do," Peak said she thought to herself. "This is the South. Something happens, we're gonna send food. That's all we can do."

She partnered with Green for Savannah, sending the firm's donation and others there. For Columbus, she found a list of local restaurants willing and able to help. For Atlanta, she began working with Henri's Bakery & Deli after she learned the company would match 50% of all donations for lunches delivered to first responders, medical workers, police and firefighters dealing with COVID-19.

"In times of need, it is important that we all band together," Anthony DiNardo, Henri's fourth-generation owner, said on the restaurant's website. "Henri's has created deep roots in our wonderful city for over 90 years, and we know firsthand how important it is to have a strong community like Atlanta who supports each other with love and kindness during times of crisis. Now is the time for our tight-knit community to come together and thank our first responders for all they are doing to keep us safe."

Peak said her cellphone is going off at all hours from health care workers and others texting photos and messages about the meals and the nurturing—physical and emotional. In the hospitals, the meals are going to every department, from lab workers to cleaning crews. They include a simple note that says "BWP Cares" and asking for a photo to be texted to Peak's cellphone.

Some of the messages have been from restaurant owners, saying, "You helped us stay open another day."

Some calls have been to ask, "What is BWP?"

De-emphasizing the firm name was the point, according to Peak. "We didn't want it to be about anything other than that they are being thought about," she said.

Peak said the firm hopes to form a nonprofit organization that can continue through the crisis and be of use in the future. She said a 501(c)(3) application is pending. If it's approved, the tax exemptions for donations would be retroactive.

She has chronicled the effort on a Facebook page called BWP Cares, adding a continuous stream of photos texted to her by the recipients of the meals. She said she's been moved by messages of those taking encouragement as well as nourishment.

Peak shared this from an ICU nurse: "Good morning. Thank you so much for the food continuing to the ICU's. As difficult as the ICU's are right now, it is a great surprise to have breakfast or lunch or both. This time is very difficult right now- even more so, I haven't been able to be with my parents taking care of them due to this situation and the risk I pose to them. It is very difficult not seeing them with my father's health declining every week. So, when I come to work and see all the kindness shown to us by strangers—it makes you feel so much better and puts a smile on my face. So, please thank all these businesses and let them know we in ICU SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH."

For Easter Sunday, Peak posted a composite of the photos with this message: "On this day in particular, I thought this quote is applicable to what our mission of BWP Cares is trying to accomplish for our healthcare workers on the front lines. 'Hope is being able to see there is light despite all the darkness.' -Desmond Tutu."

She added for the contributors, "Thank you for helping to give hope to all of our healthcare workers by showing our love & support with our meals."

Donations are being accepted through Venmo (@BWPCares) or by checks made payable to BWPCares Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 2766, Columbus, GA 31902. Peak asks that donors specify whether they want their meals to be served in Columbus, Atlanta, Savannah, Macon or another city.