Free doughnuts, pizzas and even Crocs. Many showering first responders with gratitude.

Through donations of meals, coffee, donuts, pizzas and even Crocs shoes, local organizations are showing their appreciation for hospital workers, medical professionals, firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers as they work to protect residents from COVID-19.

Billy Karasik, Sasha Poline, Jenia Huldisch, Karina Isunts, owners of The Guest Restaurant in North Miami Beach, are regularly bringing food to healthcare workers at local hospitals and policemen at local precincts.

The restaurant staff fed 35 doctors and nurses April 10 at the Aventura Hospital intensive care unit.

“They’re working 14 hours a day,” Karasik said.

“Our executive chef and baker have been working extremely hard to make the delicious comfort food our heroes deserve. After all, our front liners should be recognized in this difficult time.”

“We would like other vendors to help us by donating food and supplies to continue with our efforts,” he said. They have a GoFundMe campaign called “Feed the Superheroes” on the @TheGuestMiami Facebook page.

“On April 7, we fed 45 police officers and are trying to feed people every day. We have invested our money and supplies to feed the heroes and want to continue doing so as they risk their lives working all day every day to protect us,” he said.

The Salty Donut in Wynwood launched a Donut Donation campaign to share gratitude for everything that healthcare professionals and first responders are doing for the community, said Kelly Penton, spokesperson for the Wynwood Business Improvement District.

“On The Salty’s website, customers can place an order for a set pack of donuts to be delivered to those individuals working tirelessly on the front lines at different hospitals/locations throughout Miami.” You can leave your own message of gratitude too.

The Salty is matching every donation by sending customers who donate donuts an eGift card in addition to sending a gift card to the healthcare workers and first responders with their donut delivery. More details are at www.saltydonut.com.

So far donations deliveries have been sent to Baptist Hospital in South Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Baptist Doctors Hospital, City of Miami Fire Rescue, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Celebrity Chef Ivan Dorvil and the City of North Miami Beach worked together to provide meals and gratitude for the healthcare heroes at Jackson North Medical Center.

Dorvil, a Haitian-born chef, said the Jackson North Medical Center team has a special place in his heart for the care its medical staffers gave to his family members in the past. He wanted to extend his thanks by delivering some of his most popular dishes of braised okra turkey, smoked collard greens and rice djon-djon.

Chef Ivan starred in two Food Network hit series: “Chopped,” where he was the winner in season 11, and “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” He owns Ivan’s Cookhouse, a Caribbean-Asian fusion restaurant, in North Miami Beach.

Miami-based Presidente Supermarkets has delivered fresh meals to healthcare heroes working at UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Centers and Clinics in Greater Miami for three days in a row.

“We feel it is our duty for Presidente Supermarkets to support our community and those who dedicate themselves to the health and well-being of all of its residents,” said Leticia Rodriguez, an executive with Presidente Supermarkets.

“During this pandemic, there is no one that stands out more for their hard work and life-saving commitment than our healthcare heroes.”

Nine life-saving facilities throughout Greater Miami have received about 140 meals. City of Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez and Major League Baseball star Yasiel Puig joined Presidente Supermarkets to deliver the meals to UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Center Doral, the last stop of the day.

As hospitals and public health departments ramp up their efforts to treat COVID-19 patients and keep residents safe, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched an initiative to show support.

Called “Miami Salutes,” the program is calling on the hospitality industry to share their deals for front-line responders and is listing dozens of those specials on one site, making it easy for workers to learn about what is available to them.

“We know that our front-line and first responders are working tirelessly to help and protect all of us, and their efforts are likely to escalate in the coming days and weeks,” said William D. Talbert, III, C.D.M.E., President and CEO of the GMCVB.

“We are proud to bring together Greater Miami’s hospitality industry to support these public servants and show our appreciation in any way possible.”

Learn more about this effort at https://www.GMCVB.com/MiamiSalutes where first responders can receive free pizza, Krispy Kreme donuts and Starbucks coffee, and deep discounts on meals from Pollo Tropical, Bulla Gastrobar, Divino Ceviche, discounts on wireless services. Crocs is donating a free pair of shoes to all healthcare workers.

Additional initiatives include delivery and/or take-out menus at local restaurants, Hotels for Essential Lodgers, a list of hotels open for Essential Lodgers during the crisis, and Help for Tourism, a web page providing the industry and other GMCVB partners a look at how to secure assistance.

The Miami Pandemic Response Fund, a partnership among the GMCVB, United Way of Miami-Dade, Miami Herald/Nuevo Herald, Health Foundation of South Florida and The Miami Foundation, has been created to fund support for hospitality workers and their families with emergency needs. Go to https://www.GMCVB.com.

Attorneys from Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen are donating meals to first responders across South Florida, including the South Miami Hospital Emergency Room, Bal Harbour Police Department and Hialeah Fire Station.

The food was provided “to help keep each city’s first responders fueled and ready to save lives as they continue working around the clock during the coronavirus outbreak.” Donations also support local restaurants.

The firm will continue to give food and supplies to about 30 different police departments, fire stations and ER departments throughout Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

Members of the Kiwanis of Little Havana teamed up with Versailles Restaurant to provide meals to Jackson Memorial Hospital health workers battling COVID-19.

More than 250 doctors and nurses received the complimentary lunches on Thursday thanks to the volunteers of the club and its foundation.

“This is just a small token of our appreciation to these heroes, who in the wake of this unfortunate pandemic, are saving lives while risking their own,” said Tony Lorenzo, chairman of the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation.

“If other organizations such as ours and private sector groups join this initiative, we will not only help these front-line professionals, but we will also support local hospitality businesses with the purchase of food. Together we can overcome this emergency.”

Cleveland Clinic Florida has created a philanthropic program to benefit first responders in South Florida and the Treasure Coast who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Called the Cleveland Clinic First Responder Hardship Program, it is funded by donations the group has received from the South Florida community. You can help by making a donation at 954-659-6720 or https://my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/giving/campaign

The fund will help provide financial support to first responders who are experiencing a temporary financial hardship due to COVID-19.

“During this unprecedented time, the healthcare community needs to stick together — and we can’t do this without our first responders,” said Wael Barsoum, CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic Florida.

Those who qualify include law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management officials, and firefighters, among other first responders.

While many receive insurance through their employers, the Cleveland Clinic fund covers out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered, said spokeswoman Natalie Alatriste. It also covers losses from theft or if a spouse is laid off from work.

The fund is open to all first responders in South Florida, not just Cleveland Clinic caregivers, Alatriste said.

Another effort to create awareness and drive additional donations for non-profits that serve those experiencing homelessness, economically disadvantaged families, seniors, and children is the program set up by Westfield Broward in Plantation.

Broward Pantry Donations| Westfield Broward will provide monetary donations on an ongoing basis to Broward Pantry to help provide meals and supplies to families who are affected by COVID-19.

For more and to donate, visit https://www.thepantryofbroward.org/donate/. Check out more ways to help at #WestfieldCares.

Miami Herald Staff Writer Howard Cohen contributed to this report.

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 5:40 PM.