Hamilton wins the friendly “Mayors’ Challenge” against Fairfield to support essential workers
Hamiltonians are known for loving Richard’s Pizza steak sandwiches, but it was taken to a new level during one week of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine when they were challenged to buy them for essential workers.
Karen Underwood Kramer, co-owner of Richard’s Pizza, says a contest between the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield was a huge success. The mayors, Pat Moeller and Steve Miller, laid down the gauntlet.
They called upon Kramer to get the pizza business to join them in supporting Hamilton and Fairfield staffers at area hospitals, the city public works departments, the police and fire departments and more.
They also sought to support Richard’s as a local business, which has restaurants in both cities.
The “Mayors’ Challenge” was launched in May 2020 and lasted for one week. Patrons could donate funds of $5 or more to purchase sandwiches for essential workers, and Richard’s agreed to match all donations.
Hamilton groups stepped up and spurred the numbers in the city’s favor: Kramer said groups such as the American Legion purchased large orders, pushing the city to victory.
Hamilton bought 463 sandwiches, and Fairfield bought 192.
In total, 1,310 sandwiches were distributed to workers. Deliveries started in mid-May and were made to the fire departments in both cities, multiple shifts over multiple days; multiple shifts of workers at both Mercy and Fort Hamilton hospitals, the public works departments, wastewater facilities, city garages, the utility customer service departments, finance departments and more.
Kramer said deliveries were made to the folks who really kept things running while everyone was quarantined during the pandemic.
“I think it was a wonderful thing to do, and we had so much fun being a part of it,” she said. “I have had so much fun being part of the deliveries and personally thanking the fire and police departments, all the city workers and the healthcare personnel. I didn’t realize how much fun it would be to go out there and say thank you.”