ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — We’ve all heard how small business and restaurants are suffering right now.

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And we continue to learn about the bravery of healthcare workers and the struggles they’re facing on the front lines. But what if there was a way to help local businesses and healthcare workers at the same time? A group in St. Petersburg figured out how.

This weekend alone Brian Zucker with the Edge Guide and St. Pete Rising delivered 500 meals to healthcare workers and it’s all because of donations from the community.

“So we’re raising money through our fundraiser through StPetemeals.com and with those donations we’re able to go out and purchase takeout from local restaurants and deliver them to local hospitals, urgent cares, EMS workers, fire fighters, you name it. Everybody on the front lines,’ Zucker said.

And the response has been amazing.

“I delivered to St. Anthony’s hospital about a week ago. And I delivered to the day shift early on in the day and I came back around 9 P.M. that day and delivered to the night shift and when I went to drop off the nightshift delivery, they gave me a card that was signed by pretty much everybody that had been a recipient of one of the meals,” Zucker said.

He said that was a validation that what they’re doing is the right thing.

“When you deliver the food the healthcare workers are so appreciative. You can just see it in their eyes. I think anything to brighten their day at this point is very beneficial,” he said.

All of the meals are picked up and some of the restaurants are also donating meals. Zucker said the type of meals they deliver is just as important as the meal itself.

“I’m looking for food that is universally loved by everybody. So sandwiches, burgers, burritos, that sort of thing,” he said. “I’m also looking for food that can be individually packaged because to prevent the spread of germs I don’t want anyone to have to eat in a communal environment.”

The group is still accepting donations and they plan to continue to deliver those meals to healthcare workers. So far they’ve raised more than $25,000.