Joey Cioffi found himself in the same predicament facing many New Jersey restaurant owners during the coronavirus crisis. He wanted to help those fighting the pandemic, but at the same time he knew the economic slowdown threatened his business as well.

Luckily, charitable donors have found a way to support New Jersey hospitals while at the same time buoying Cioffi’s restaurants, sending more than 3,000 meals sent to doctors and nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

Cioffi is the owner of The Salad House, a fast-casual eatery with locations in Millburn, Morristown, Westfield and Somerville. He also owns a deli with his brother, Jerry, called Cioffi’s in Springfield. Meals from all his restaurants have been purchased and sent to hospitals by those looking to help two of the industries hit hardest by the crisis, including 2,000 from the deli in partnership with his brother.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center in Summit and Christ Hospital in Jersey City have all received meals from Cioffi’s restaurants.

“We we have a slogan at the Salad House, ‘fueled,’ and we’re fueling the frontline people," Cioffi said. "We are bringing the gas to the tanks, the artillery to help them persevere, giving them the sustenance that that helps them fight the fight.”

Cioffi was already making small donations to New Jersey hospitals when a group of friends approached him with a massive donation that led to 175 box lunches being sent to the ICU at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

“It was wonderful. These people identified that hospitals need to get food and that my business was affected,” Cioffi said. “Business is not anywhere close to normal. And then this angelic group of people have partnered up with me.”

Cioffi used social media to make sure people heard about the group’s amazing gesture, and it took off from there. Groups are calling in to make donations. Friends are chipping in, whether they’re buying gift cards are just Venmoing him. The business is being supported, and at the same time hospitals are as well.

“I started doing a lot of posts. A lot of people took note and started donating to me," Cioffi said. “Now lunch and dinner is being covered by friends and family that have loaned me money put it to work.”

Food from Cioffi’s restaurant isn’t just going to hospitals. Meals have gone to families whose parents are sick and can’t come home. Food is being sent to police officers, fire departments and EMS workers, with a charity called Front Line Appreciation Group helping coordinate. Cioffi even sent make-your-own pizza kits to kids whose birthday parties were canceled by the pandemic.

I just want to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to Joey Cioffi at Cioffi’s of Springfield! Yesterday, he asked for families who... Posted by Nicole Christine on Thursday, March 26, 2020

Cioffi is also working with a charity called Feeding The Frontline, which has a GoFundMe that is collecting money to buy meals at restaurants in Westfield and sending them to hospitals.

Riley’s Dance, a charity that supports those in need of organ transplants, bought more than 100 meals for hospitals alone.

The support he has received, from friends and the community, has Cioffi inspired as he hopes to keep feeding those who need it most during coronavirus. He’s even been supported by people he knows are struggling themselves during the crisis.

“The people that can donate, it’s been amazing to see them step up. I’m so proud to be associated with a lot of the people that I am. I have friends that are donating anywhere from from couple thousand dollars to $25," Cioffi said. “Some people gave me $25 or $50 they might not really have to spare. They just want to help that bad.”

Have you seen an inspiring story in your community during this troubling time? Tell us about it. And, see more uplifting stories in #TogetherNJ.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.