Gov. John Carney’s emergency order closing sit-down bar and restaurant service has hit the Cape Region economy hard, putting hundreds of restaurant workers out of a job.
But Gary and Lorraine Papp, owners of Rehoboth Beach’s Palate, put their skills to use by making free meals for the area’s out-of-work restaurant employees.
The Papps extended their services to any restaurant that asked; March 29 saw laid-off employees from Lewes Yacht Club arriving to pick up meals, which included salad, bread and beef pasta. Gary Papp said restaurants called ahead, named each employee who needed a meal, and he and Lorraine cooked it.
“We’re just trying to help out the community,” Gary Papp said.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.