In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, John Hancock is taking big steps to show its appreciation for those working on the frontlines of the public health crisis.

The financial company is donating thousands of meals to Boston hospital employees and has lit its iconic tower blue in honor of frontline workers, John Hancock said in a statement.

John Hancock partnered with “Off Their Plate" to provide 8,500 meals over the course of six days to employees at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center, according to the statement.

"These meals, in partnership with Off Their Plate, are a small way for all of us at John Hancock to say thank you to our health care heroes while providing important support to local restaurants,” Marianne Harrison, CEO of John Hancock, said in the statement.

Off Their Plate, an organization founded by two Boston chefs, allows the public to buy meals for health care staffers working amidst the crisis while also providing revenue to restaurants, who are suffering significant financial losses due to the outbreak.

The meals being donated are from multiple restaurants in Greater Boston, including Cafe Sushi, Pagu, Mei Mei, Flour Bakery, Porto and Little Donkey. Five more restaurants will be added in the coming week, according to John Hancock.

Through the initiative, the financial company hopes to feed janitorial staff, nurses, physicians, security and anyone else who may be interacting with COVID-19 patients.

The business was expected to start distributing meals on April 15, known as “One Boston Day,” in honor of the seventh anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.

“From our doctors and nurses, to security guards and maintenance staff – our teams are working tirelessly to care for our patients and help bring an end to this pandemic,” said Dr. David Brown, chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. “It means a lot to have an army of support behind us, and these meals help boost our morale."

The program is part of John Hancock’s “You Are Essential. We Are Grateful” initiative launched earlier this month. The company has urged the state to show support for frontline workers by lighting buildings blue and displaying signs of appreciation in homes.

To date, eighteen buildings have been lit blue, and they will remain that way through April 20 at least, a John Hancock spokesperson told MassLive. The buildings include Boston City Hall, Gillette Stadium, the Museum of Science, TD Garden, the Zakim Bridge and others.

John Hancock’s skyscraper, the tallest structure in the city, will be lit blue until Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s stay-at-home advisory is lifted, the spokesperson noted. The tower is located at 200 Clarendon St.

The company was also one of the first to contribute to the Boston Resiliency Fund, donating $1 million to support COVID-19 relief for vulnerable populations in the city impacted by the viral respiratory infection.

“John Hancock is committed to building a healthier, more equitable Boston, especially during this time of crisis,” the company said.

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