© Annie Rice/Caller-Times Willie Ferguson, left, cuts chicken for Water Street Oyster Bar's first responder meals, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The restaurant will begin serving the free meals Wednesday till Friday.

Sally Wallace and her friends joked about their lack of sewing abilities.

Wallace, a stay at home mom and self-proclaimed "professional volunteer," and her friends wanted to help the community. That's when the idea came to her.

Food for first responders.

"We are friends with the Lomaxes, who own Water Street (Oyster Bar)," Wallace said. "I asked if they would be willing to do this."

Liz Lomax, who owns the downtown restaurant with her husband, quickly said yes.

"Food for firsts" came to fruition through an email that was forwarded from friend to friend. The email helped raise $25,000 in donations for meals, as of Monday afternoon, Wallace said.

The idea is a win-win.



"We can't tell you how grateful we are to part of this. It's been such a gift," Lomax said. "For our employees, to be able to do something for the first responders and we're bringing people back to work to help do this, that we had to furlough."

Water Street staff will help make meals for about 600 first responders, medical personnel and essential employees in Corpus Christi, Wallace said.

© Annie Rice/Caller-Times Water Street Oyster Bar delivers free meals to the Corpus Christi Police Department, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The restaurant will begin serving the free meals Wednesday till Friday.

The food will be made and delivered to them.

"Corpus has a way of rallying. It makes me really proud of my community," Wallace said. "It's just very fulfilling to see our community come together. We did for Harvey, and we did for the Wimberly flooding."

Wallace hopes to see others in the community come together and for acts of kindness in the community.

"We see what (first responders) are doing and we want to do whatever we can to help them," Lomax said. "It's helping people's jobs and local businesses. It's really amazing. Sally had a brilliant idea."

Alexandria Rodriguez covers breaking news and crime in South Texas. Support local news by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Fundraiser gives meals to Corpus Christi first responders, brings back furloughed workers