Al Copeland Foundation feeds La. healthcare troops amid COVID-19 fight

From left, St. Tammany Health System Executive Chef Abry Crosby, Food Services Director Helen McNab and St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Executive Director Nicole Suhre accept a truckload of healthy snacks donated by Al Copeland Foundation representatives Bonnie Copeland, Tim Thompson and Tony LeMon on Friday (April 17). The snacks were donated to feed healthcare workers and first responders during the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Tim San Fillippo/STHS)

By Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

When most people hear the name Al Copeland, their first thought is usually along the lines of Popeyes famous fried chicken, its buttermilk biscuits or maybe the fast-food chain’s signature red beans and rice. On Friday, however, the family of the fried-chicken magnate and iconic New Orleans personality had food of a different sort on the menu.

As part of the Al Copeland Foundation’s newly launched “Be a Hero, Thank a Hero” campaign, foundation representatives on Friday (April 17) delivered a truckload of healthy snacks and drinks to St. Tammany Health System’s main Covington campus to keep local healthcare workers and first responders fueled up amid the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The snacks and drinks will be made available for use in the break rooms of various St. Tammany Health System departments.

Similar donations are being made by the foundation to hospitals throughout the Greater New Orleans area, according to Bonnie Copland, the eldest daughter of Al Copeland and among those on-hand Friday to salute STHS staff members.

“It’s a privilege,” she said as the truck was being unloaded at STHS. “It’s all in honor of my dad. I know he would have been here today if he could have been. We’re privileged to be able to do things in his name and continue his legacy.”

Al Copeland Sr. died in 2008 of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. After his death, his family started the Al Copeland Foundation to find a cure, said Bonnie Copeland’s husband, Tim Thompson, who accompanied her Friday morning.

Given that the foundation was formed in connection to a healthcare issue, Thompson said it was only natural for it to reach out in an effort to lift up healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This actually started with the dying wishes of my father-in-law,” Thompson said. “We wanted to give back what we can to these healthcare heroes at the all the hospitals.”

The items delivered Friday – which ranged from sports drinks to granola bars and popcorn to fresh fruit -- were identified by first responders as particularly useful during the fight against COVID-19.

“These men and women bravely show up for work every day with little time to care for their own needs,” foundation CEO Al Copeland Jr. said in a news release. “We have reached out to the hospitals to hear what their staff needs to help make them more comfortable while they fight for the health of our loved ones. We hope these care packages provide some relief to help keep them going.” 

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