Together Detroit: Abdelkaders buy meals for St. Joseph Mercy Oakland

Everyone in Michigan is in awe of the amazing work that is being done by everyone on the front lines of fighting COVID-19, especially the health care workers and first responders.

That definitely includes the entire Red Wings organization.

Alternate captain Justin Abdelkader, who has often visited children in the hospital with his teammates, obviously can't do that right now as people remain at home to try to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

But Abdelkader and his wife, Julie, knew there was something they could do to help.

"We thought with the workers, the nurses and the doctors and those on the front lines at the hospital, we thought it'd be really nice if we could do something for them," Abdelkader said in a phone interview. "I think just being able to provide meals for a full day for the workers and show our support and gratitude for what they're doing really got us excited and it was something that we wanted to do.

"With them, the job is obviously from what we see and what we hear, it's obviously very difficult and it's tireless work. I don't even know the full way to explain it but hopefully just us and with our team showing appreciation for everything they're doing and it's not going unnoticed. Hopefully they're going to enjoy the food they're going to be getting and it's a little different."

On Tuesday, which happens to be World Health Day, the Abdelkaders provided an entire day's worth of meals for the day and night shift at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac.

"We partnered with Detroit Wing Company and we're going to do just an assortment of a bunch of different foods," Abdelkader said. "It was nice to partner with a local company as well to support them and to support their workers. The money will obviously be going back to them and the workers that work for the restaurant. You look at it, it can help a small business like that also. Obviously most importantly, the people on the front lines, the people that are taking care of the individuals in the hospital and are really being stretched to their max."

There are more than 1,200 people who work at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland between the day and night shifts.

"To receive a food donation from Justin, who is such a well-known and beloved sports figure within our community, it's a signal of support for our staff and gives us a much-needed boost," said Rahul Mehta, MD, Chairman of the Emergency Department at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. "Justin and Julie, St. Joe's, our community, we're all on the same team and we are taking on COVID-19 together."

One of those amazing people on the front lines at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is nurse Anna Brock.

"Receiving this food donation not only provided us with nourishment, it encouraged us to take a break, which we really needed," said Brock, a registered nurse working in the Intensive Care Unit of St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. "As we remain focused on our patients, this generous gesture connected us back with the community we serve. We are incredibly grateful to Justin and Julie for their support and for helping lift our spirits during these challenging times."

Detroit Wing Company owner Gus Malliaras got connected with the Abdelkaders through a mutual friend and was glad to be part of the effort.

"I want to be sure that we're not taking any credit," Malliaras said in a phone interview. "This was all Justin. My initial response when this was run by me was to kind of meet him halfway. He had a budget that he wanted to spend and I came back with spend half of that and I'll basically chip in the rest and we can kind of do it together. He was very quick to say no, it's two-fold, he wanted to support the hospital but he also wanted to support us as a business. That's incredible. So this was 100 percent him. He refused even the slightest discount. We're incredibly grateful for that.

"It's a true sign of leadership and it really shows, not to sound too cliché or anything but I've been a Red Wings fan my whole life, you always hear the organization and the level of class there, this is probably the best example I've ever seen of it, most certainly first-hand. So it's incredible. We're happy to do it and honored that he chose us to do it with."

For all the health care workers who are going non-stop and don't have a chance to leave the hospital, it offers these important workers something other than the usual cafeteria fare.

"Hopefully they'll be excited for something different," Abdelkader said. "I know the food will be really good. Also just trying to show our support and our gratitude for what they're doing each and every day."

Malliaras said the Detroit Wing Company, which has seven metro Detroit locations and two more under construction, had one location prepare more than 8,000 wings and another make the sides.

"We did boneless wings and then about 32 pans of macaroni and cheese," Malliaras said. "We know there are some nurses that don't eat meat so we wanted to make sure that the side we sent was substantial enough at least to be filling. We figured mac and cheese was a good option for that."

Although chicken wings might not be a regular part of his nutrition plan, Abdelkader said he does enjoy them from time to time.

"I've always been a barbecue type of guy," Abdelkader said. "I'm not exactly sure what they call it but I would just say barbecue type sauce is my favorite. You can't beat those."

Malliaras said the Detroit Wing Company is fortunate to be considered an essential business and are lucky that they were already more oriented toward carryout service.

To protect employees during the pandemic, they put up Plexiglas around all their cashiers' stations and are texting customers when their order is ready.

He is grateful to be able to help the health care workers in his own way.

"It's just unbelievable," Malliaras said. "We've done a few drops with hospitals so far previous to this - nothing of this size. But we've had a few nurses come in and order and we've matched those orders and sent out a few donations. They're just so appreciative of the food and from my perspective, it's such a small gesture, it's like the least we can do for what they're doing. I can't even imagine what that world is like right now."

Like everyone in Michigan, the Abdelkaders are staying home with their young son, Jaxon, to try to keep the burden on the health care system as light as it can be in these difficult times.

"Obviously we're trying to help them out, too, stay quarantined at home and be safe and I think that's important as well," Abdelkader said.

"They're the true heroes during this time and we're just very fortunate for the great work that they're doing."