MIDDLEBURY — The Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes American Legion posts are joining forces to thank Porter Medical Center workers for their service during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Post 19 in Bristol, Post 27 in Middlebury and Post 14 in Vergennes are each contributing $1,000 to buy pizza, salads and sandwiches to Porter workers as they toil away under stressful circumstances. 
Porter officials are on guard for a possible surge of coronavirus cases. In the meantime, the hospital has already accommodated several COVID-19 patients, and has put in place security and screening measures to help prevent the spread of contagion at the county’s hospital.
The Middlebury Legion is investing its $1,000 donation with Green Peppers Restaurant, while the Bristol and Vergennes Legions are contracting with Cubbers Restaurant in Bristol. The combined $3,000 should keep the food rolling into Porter for a nice stretch as a tasty reward for the hard work that PMC staff — including doctors and housekeeping associates — are doing every day.
It’ll also be a nice shot in the arm for Cubbers and Green Peppers at a time when restaurants have had to close — or limit business to curb service and/or deliveries — during the pandemic.
“The American Legion is built upon four pillars: veterans affairs & rehabilitation, national security, Americanism and children & youth,” Middlebury Post 27 Adjutant Tom Scanlon said. “The current insidious COVID-19 pandemic that is impacting all of society does not discriminate. It impacts our veterans, our children and senior citizens … our complete community as well as the overall safety and security of our nation. It is therefore important that the American Legion reach out to support and assist those individuals and entities, particularly those in the emergency and medical services and their support staff who are on the front lines working diligently to protect us. It is the least we can do. They are truly our heroes and much appreciated. We thank them for their service.”
Here’s a statement provided by Bristol Post 19 Adjutant Alan M. Smith Sr.:
“American Legion Post 19 family in Bristol and American Legion Family Post 14 in Vergennes in cooperation with Cubbers Restaurant of Bristol will be delivering pizza and salads to the staff and employees of Porter Medical Center. The first donation will be between 11:30 a.m. and noon on April 10. We hope to do this twice a week for the next month or so. The items will be put in the trunk of a car by Cubbers employees and unloaded at Porter’s loading dock by hospital personnel. 
“This is to thank them for their extraordinary efforts in combating the current pandemic.”
Ron Hallman, spokesman for PMC, thanked the Legion Posts for their generous donations.
John Flowers is at [email protected].